On Tuesday November 11th at the PEC Auditorium the 2009 Blanco County Relay for Life Committee kicked of this year’s celebration with a bang. As the powerful energy filled the air to set off a wonderful year of Relaying, this year’s committee was on hand to talk about Relay For Life and acknowledge those that had given so much of their time and have supported Relay For Life in the past.

The Relay for Life is not only a fund raiser to raise money for the American Cancer Society to fund research, education, advocacy, and patient services. It is about a community taking up the fight. This “celebration of life” brings the community together in a unified effort to fight cancer and symbolizes the fight that cancer patients must face after they are diagnosed with cancer. The light and the darkness of the day and night parallel the physical effects, emotions, and mental state of a cancer patient while undergoing treatment.

The Relay Begins now, as the sun is starting to set. This symbolizes the time that the person has been diagnosed with cancer. The day is getting darker, and this represents the cancer patient’s state of mind as they feel that life is coming to an end. As the evening goes on it gets colder and darker, just as the emotions of the cancer patient do. Around 1 a.m. to 2 a.m. represents the time when the cancer patient starts treatments. They become exhausted, some sick, not wanting to go on possibly wanting to give up. Participants in Relay feel much the same way while walking during these hours. They cannot stop or give up, just as the cancer patient cannot stop or give up. Around 4a.m. to 5a.m. symbolizes the end of treatment for the cancer patient.

Once again they are tired, but they know they will make it. The sun rising represents the end of treatment for the cancer patient. They see the light at the end of the tunnel and know that life will go on. The morning light brings on a new day full of life and excitement for new beginnings for the cancer patient. Participants feel the brightness of the morning and know that the end of the Relay is close at hand. When participants leave the Relay, they can think of cancer patients leaving their last treatment. Just as participants are exhausted and weak, so is that person after treatment. So, that’s why we are here. To Celebrate those that have fought this dreaded disease or are currently fighting it, Remember those that are no longer with us, and Fight Back against this disease by giving of yourself through your time and/or resources.

The 2009 Blanco County Relay for Life Committee would like to recognize the following participants that helped last year’s Relay For Life to be so successful: Johnson City Record Courier and the Blanco County News for allowing us to report to the community; Armando Delgado for being our D.J. and keeping us awake with a dance contest at 3am ASB Karate for their wonderful demonstration. Kim Watts for her wonderful catering at our Survivor dinner. We would also like to thank PEC and the Methodist Church of Blanco for allowing us to hold our monthly meetings in your facilities. We also would like to recognize the Johnson City Bank for being our Gold Sponsor, PEC Employee’s United Charities and Blanco Auto Parts with the Grandberg family for being our Silver Sponsors, and the Blanco National bank with the Guardian Title Company for being our Bronze Sponsors. Last but certainly not least we want to give a big thanks to all of our teams! With our Team fund-raising alone we were able to raise $63,021.99! Our top five fund-raising teams that were recognized at the Kick Off Party were, The Pajama Mamas ($9,115.36), Keystone Kops ($5,159.00), Hunting For A Cure ($4,729.06) and Night Pray-ers ($3,715.00). A very special THANK YOU goes out to PEC for the use of the Auditorium for our Kick-Off Party, as well as Johnson City Subway, Silver K Café and the 290 Diner for catering the affair.

If you would like to join a team or have any questions you can contact the following people: Kasi Baker (512-820-9282) or Mandi Welch (830-385-5559), Sylvia Romero—Teams (512-461-6337) and Laura Jenschke—Luminaria (512-971-9097)