Relay for Life 2012 raises $50,000

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

It was another good year for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in Van Wert, as organizers and participants celebrated that success during the closing ceremony on Saturday at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds.

This year’s Relay for Life event raised $51,000, well on the way to the 2012 goal of $72,000. Fundraising will continue until August.

The top fundraising teams for 2012 included the following:

• Bronze ($2,500-$3,499) — Dr. Carl Jeffery-Dr. Jessica Jeffery-Mohr (Jeffery-Mohr Familiy Dentists), Team Fit Bodi.
• Silver ($3,500-$4,999) — Black Attack, First Federal Savings and Loan, Stahl-Stoller-Meyer Insurance;
• Gold ($5,000-$7,499) — Jim’s Indians, Leland Smith Insurance and Pink Angels.
• Platinum ($7,500 plus) — St. Mark’s Lutheran Church.

The annual fundraising event for the American Cancer Society began Friday evening with the Relay for Life Torch Walk, which traveled from the YWCA of Van Wert County to the fairgrounds. That was followed by the Survivors’ Walk, which officially kicks off the annual fundraiser.

This year’s Relay for Life, which ran for 18 hours, included the luminary ceremony, during which the names of those who lost their battle to cancer were read and luminaries lighted in their memory. This year’s luminary ceremony featured a special tribute to the late Dick Dunlap, who had been a dedicated part of the Relay for Life event for many years.

Dunlap’s family was presented with a plaque recognizing his efforts on behalf of Relay for Life, while candles were lighted in his memory.

This year for a change, the Relay for Life event saw mostly pleasant weather, unlike many years when rain, storms and cold weather were more the norm.

As usual, there was plenty of free entertainment, while food was also available for the Relay for Life walkers.