Kelli Easterling | Daily Journal Terra Fuller (center) and Lauren Brewer (far right) walked with signs at the 2011 Relay for Life event, in memory of "Mrs. Trudy," who was the manager at Dance Sensations at lost her battle with pancreatic cancer. This year's Relay event will be Friday evening, May 11 at RSHS stadium.

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The annual Relay for Life event is just around the corner, and teams are wrapping up their fund-raising efforts before the big day.

On Friday, May 11, Relay for Life will kick off at Richmond Senior High Stadium at 6 p.m. and events will continue until 2 a.m. About 36 teams have registered to participate, and many more community members will be stopping by to support the cause.

“We raised almost $100k last year, and it looks like we’re on track to do that well again this year,” said Linda Bayless, co-chair of the RC Relay chapter.

Beth McDonald will be the special survivor speaker, and Lisa Ledford will be the survivor supporter speaker.

“I’ll be talking about my experiences as a caregiver to a loved one with cancer,” said Ledford.

“It’s going to be a big event again this year,” said Bayless. “All the slots for tents and vendors are full.”

Some of the action for the evening will include: Zumba dance sessions; Van Haggard, a rock band; the Ruther Fords, a gospel group; the Richmond Senior High show choir; Cameronean Boys gospel group; Hydrenaline, an alternative rock band; the Butterflies; and Fortress, a Christian rock band.

Vendors selling food will be set up around the stadium. Some things on the menus include: smoked turkey legs; Sandhill Boys Barbecue; fried pickles; bologna sandwiches; funnel cakes; fried Oreos; New Jersey subs; burgers; sausage dogs; snow cones; and homemade pound cake with strawberries and cream.

“We also have a lot of raffle items in store,” said Bayless. “There will be chances to win lots of great prizes.”

The public is invited to attend the event, and the cost of entry is $5.

“For the $5 entry fee, each person will receive $5 in Relay Bucks which can be spent inside with any of the vendors,” said Bayless.

In addition to the fun events planned for the evening Bayless said, this year, participants will be encouraged to whip out their cell phones and make some calls during the walk. Callers will dial up their friends and loved ones, to remind them about the importance of getting annual health screenings. Each call will be marked as a check on a board, and tallied after the walk.

“We’re there to have a good time, and celebrate the money the teams raised for cancer research — but we want to stay focused on what’s important, and that’s keeping people as healthy as they can be,” said Bayless.

No pets are allowed at the event.

Relay for Life organizers will hold a “post bank night” on May 22 in the cafeteria at Sandhills Regional Medical Center, in Hamlet, to collect all donations that come in after the main event.

— Staff Writer Kelli Easterling can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 18, or by email at keasterling@heartlandpublications.com

Survivor Breakfast

The annual cancer survivor breakfast will be held this Saturday at Fellowship United Methodist Church in Hamlet at 9:30 a.m. The church is located at 1200 McDonald Avenue.

Breakfast will be served free to all survivors who turn out. Survivors can bring one guest each.