RSS Feed
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Relay For Life participation results in $80,000 raised
Organizers still are beaming, however, over the success of the 2008 event that attracted more than 2,000 people to Dolphin Stadium over an 18-hour period April 25-26. Final figures show $80,000 was raised through the walk-athon and related charity auction. Thirty-four teams comprised of 530 registered walkers circled the quarter-mile track a total of 4,940 times, equaling 127 miles. Seventy survivors attended and participated in the initial ceremonial lap. "We were extremely pleased with our team turnout and the amount of excitement and enthusiasm the public displayed," Steering Committee Secretary and Publicity Chairman Wil Pergande said. The late Allen R. Levin was the event's designated honorary chairman. Levin, developer of the Portofino Condominium complex and other major projects on Santa Rosa Island, died Jan. 12 at age 62 of heart disease after battling lung cancer for two years. His wife and two sons received an award in Levin's honor. "Allen was a great humanitarian," Pergande said. "He was always donating and helping everybody with local projects and civic events. He was always there to help." Other award winners were: Top fundraising individual: Amanda Harris, Berkeley Believers, $3,000; Most laps by individual: Jeanette Gentry, Berkeley Believers, 80 laps; Most laps by team: Oriole Beach Elementary School, 922.5 laps; Pre-event Team Spirit: St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church; Event Team Spirit: Mighty Monkeys; Rookie Team Award: Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church; First place Cooking Contest: Cadets of Gulf Breeze High School; First place Campsite Decoration: Oriole Beach Elementary School; Pergande credited the participation of the area's youth as being instrumental in the success of Relay For Life. "It's a real outing for young people," he said. "So many kids today are in families who have been touched by cancer. And it's really a family affair. You see parents on corporate teams and their kids on school teams. "Those little boogers raised a lot of money!" Pergande also praised the work of American Cancer Society liaison Jessica James and Relay Chairman Robert Randle, whose direction and leadership made the event run smoothly. "Jessica is really an inspiration and motivator," Pergande said. "She used to work for the Gulf Breeze Recreation Department. She knows a lot of people.
"Robert gives so freely of his time and helps with so many causes. He keeps things rolling pretty good, too." Top Relay fundraisers |
for larger version       Ads have a Patent Pending. Click Here for More Information |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
)