2009 Relay for Life runs this weekend

TREND GATHERING AND TREATING donates $3,000 to Freestone County Relay for Life as a platinum sponsor of the American Cancer Society fundraiser. Pictured are: l-r, relay volunteer Darlene Jones, relay co-chairman Bettye Trask, relay volunteer Spain Trask, Chris Wilson of Trend Gathering and relay volunteer Billie Brim. The 2009 version of Freestone County Relay for Life, a fundraiser benefitting American Cancer Society, opens its overnight run Friday at Eagle Field in Fairfield.

This is the 11th year for the event which has raised about $750,000—-about $72,000 was raised in the anaugural event in 1998, and more than $100,000 was raised each of the past two years.

Co-chairmen this year are Bettye Trask and Frances Collier.

On tap are an auction, musical entertainment, games and memorial service.

Centerpiece of the relay are teams which have collected pledges and will walk around the Eagle Field track for 12 straight hours, until 7 a.m. Saturday.

When not walking, team members gather in camps set up around the track.

FREESTONE COUNTY TITLE COMPANY makes a $250 donation to Freestone County Relay for Life. Pictured are: l-r, relay volunteer Darlene Jones, relay co-chairman Bettye Trask, relay volunteer Spain Trask, title company owner Andy Awalt and employees Lacey Snowden, Katie Evans and Cinnamon Archibald. More than 20 teams are signed up for the event.

The relay starts at 6 p.m. with a reception for cancer survivors who are treated with refreshments and receive a survivor T-shirt.

Entertainment during the survivors reception include the Fairfield elementary school fourth grade choir and the David Smith band.

Opening ceremonies start at 7 p.m. with the invocation given by the Rev. Spain Trask, flag ceremony by Boy Scout Troop 668, national anthem sung by Karmen Miller. Announcer for the opening ceremonies is Kyle Stone.

Immediately after the opening, cancer survivors walk the first lap around the track.

On the second lap of the relay, survivors are joined by care givers and family members, and all team members are invited to join the procession on the third lap.

FAIRFIELD FFA DONATES more than $1,500 to Freestone County Relay for Life. Pictured are: l-r, relay co-chairman Bettye Trask, FFA president Jaelan Gilbreath, relay volunteer Spain Trask and FFA vice president Jimn Davidson. Musical groups, singers and dancers will take center stage throughout the night to provide entertainment for teams and community members attending the event. Entertainment includes the Dirt Road Band and Tina Schick dancers.

Up for auction during the relay is the "Quilt of Courage" pieced by Becky Fuller Stephenson of Fairfield and her sister, Becky Fuller Evans in memory of their brother, James Michael Fuller, and quilted by Sue Hallmark Ganman in memory of her sister, Kathie Hallmark Peterson.

The quilt consits of 124 squares sold for $10 each and embroidered with the names of those who have died of cancer or have survived the disease.

A $1,000 bid has already been received for the quilt.

Luminaria will remain on sale at Eagle Field up until a special ceremony that starts at 10 p.m.

LIDE INDUSTRIES makes a $250 donation to Freestone County Relay for Life and also is sponsoring a walking team. Pictured are: l-r, relay volunteer Darlene Jones, Tammy Lide and relay volunteers Spain Trask and Billie Brim. The luminaria, which are set up around the track and also spell "HOPE" in the east football stands, are available for $5 each to honor cancer survivors and in memory of cancer victims.

During the luminaria ceremony, the football field lights are turned out and a roll of those honored and remembered is read.

Last year, more than 700 luminaria were lit for the event.

Early this week, about the relay had generated about $35,000 in contributions and the early figure was expected to grow with reports made on "bank night" this week.

Breakdown of contributions so far is $21,750 from sponsors, $13,750 from teams and $1,500 in luminaria sales.

Fairfield Young Farmers will operate a concession stand selling hamburgers and sausage, with proceeds going to the event, and Lott Physical Therapy plans to raise funds through sales of health snacks during the relay.

COMMUNITY NATIONAL BANK and Trust of Fairfield donates $1,000 to Freestone County Relay for Life. Pictured are: l-r, relay volunteer Billie Brim, CNB representatives Jason Hullum, Gene Chavers and Teresa Vandiver, and relay volunteers Spain Trask, Bettye Trask and Darlene Jones. Edge Student Ministry of Round Prairie Baptist Church will sell turkey legs to raise funds for relay, and a craft booth will be set up for children.

PLANT WORLD IN FAIRFIELD is recognized as a Freestone County Relay for Life donor for in-kind gifts it has made this year. Pictured are: l-r, Harold and Louis Shaver of Plant World, relay volunteers Billie Brim and Darlene Jones, and relay co-chairman Bettye Trask. WINDSTREAM COMMUNICATIONS makes a $500 donation to Freestone County Relay for Life. Pictured are: l-r, relay volunteers Darlene Jones and Billie Brim, Windstream administrative assistant Carolyn Schick, Windstream area manager John Arnold, relay volunteer Spain Trask and relay co-chairman Bettye Trask. FREESTONE COUNTY FARM BUREAU makes a $250 donation to Freestone County Relay for Life. Pictured are: l-r, relay co-chairman Bettye Trask, relay volunteer Spain Trask, FB president Earl Minze, agency manager Bill White and relay volunteer Darlene Jones. WELLS FARGO BANK makes a $250 donation to Freestone County Relay for Life. Pictured are; l-r, relay volunteers Darlene Jones and Spain Trask, head teller Bertha McQueen, bank manager Linda Measles, teller Hope Brewer and relay volunteer Billie Brim.