Raider Relay makes a wish on a cure for cancer, raises over $10K
Cancer doesn’t care. It doesn’t care about age, situation or career. If you haven’t dealt with cancer yourself, you’re sure to know someone who has. And many of us have lost loved ones in this fight that’s so hard to win.
Cancer doesn’t care.
But the students at Benjamin Logan High School (BLHS) do. Which is why, once again, they hosted their Raider Relay “Wish Upon a Cure” fundraiser on Friday, May 9—a day of fun and games with the sole purpose of raising money for the Logan County Cancer Society (LCCS).
According to Kelly Gibson, science teacher, National Honor Society adviser and relay organizer, the event was the work of the National Honor Society students.
“They decided the food, the games, the tournaments. They even designed the T-shirts,” Gibson said. “They’re running it all.”
In fact, two of those students — Taytum Daniels and Dylan Vance — wrote a $1,000 grant proposal, which they received and used to purchase food and prizes.
And, Gibson noted, before the relay day had even begun, the school had already raised $6,700 from T-shirt sales, $100 pledge sheet donors and the Improvising a Cure jazz concert on April 24.
Relay day started out as it always does — with the survivor’s lap around the track. Hundreds of people, including high school students, came together as a tribute to those who have or are facing cancer with strength and courage.
Surely the youngest survivor on the track Friday morning was Maverick Ramsey, who was diagnosed with brain cancer when he was 1.
“We’re so grateful to the school for honoring survivors,” Amanda Ramsey, the 3-year-old boy’s mother, said, then added, “Maverick’s celebrating two years cancer-free.”
From the youngest to, possibly, the oldest person taking the survivor lap, Deborah McCully, 76, was first diagnosed with endometrial cancer three years ago. Today, she too is cancer-free and taking immunotherapy cancer treatments.
Grateful for the awareness an event like the relay brings, McCully added a key message for those facing cancer: “There’s hope.”
After a day that included a dodgeball tournament hosted by the Raider Outreach Club, cornhole, 9-square, face painting, golf challenges and water games, they finished off with the annual talent show and announcement of prize winners.
But the real highlight of the event was being able to present a check of $10,781.16 to Tammy Gump with LCCS.
BLHS is grateful to everyone who helped make Raider Relay a success, including local businesses like Firehouse Pizza and Native Coffee Co.
