Published: November 18, 2008 07:34 am      

Organizers seek theme for 2009 Relay for Life

By Cristin Ross

cross@jacksonvilleprogress.com

Saturday’s the deadline to give the Cherokee County 2009 Relay For Life event your personal touch. Relay committee members are calling for event theme ideas for next year’s relay.

“For the last several years we’ve gotten more than 20 theme ideas,” Cherokee County Relay For Life Chair Cindy Kline said. “And they make it tough on the committee to choose just one. You can really tell they’ve really thought it out and put a lot of consideration into it. We’ve never gotten a submission that wasn’t excellent.”

Kline said the committee has received some suggestions already, numbers of suggested themes is low compared to last year.

“We’ve got some good ones, but we want everyone who is interested to get a chance to get their ideas in,” she said.

Adoption of a theme is something that most successful Relays do to help get Relay teams involved and make the event a fun-filled night. Themes should relate to the fight against cancer in such a manner that participating teams may adopt team names, acquire campsite decorations and encourage activities that will support cancer prevention education.

Last year’s theme was “Lights, Camera, Action … and the Oscar goes to ... The Cure,” submitted by Cherokee County resident Amy Simpson. Teams dressed up as popular movie characters and decorated booths to resemble scenes from or to represent favorite movies.

“This Hollywood/motion picture theme was adopted by the Relay Committee because it affords so many opportunities for creativity as it relates to the cause of Relay For Life,” Kline said in April.

There are no limitations to concepts that might be submitted. The Relay committee’s action slogan is “Our Relay promises to be a memorable event for a meaningful purpose.” Committee officials said all entries submitted will be considered carefully as to how they can best be incorporated into Relay For Life to fulfill the action slogan.

E-mail suggestions to cherokeerelayforlife@yahoo.com or mail them to Relay For Life Theme Contest at P.O. Box 1835, Jacksonville, TX 75766.

Anyone submitting theme ideas should include their name, address, phone number and e-mail address along with their theme suggestion.

The winner will be recognized and receive an award for his or her contribution to the success of the 2009 Cherokee County Relay For Life. The winner will also be the guest of honor in the Rusk and/or Jacksonville Christmas parades in December.

Cherokee County’s 2008 Relay raised $126,000 to benefit cancer research through the American Cancer Society.

The 2009 Relay For Life will be Friday and Saturday, April 24-25 at Mauldin Field on the campus of Jacksonville High School.