to paint Pike purple

By AMY S. LANSDON

News Editor

Jan. 22, 2000 10 PM

Shades of purple will be the color of Pike County for the next few months as the Pike County Relay for Life begins its campaign to raise money to help find a cure for cancer.

The Pike County Relay for Life kicked off its 2000 campaign on Jan. 18, with a meeting for team captains. Relay for Life 2000 will be held from 2 p.m. until 2 a.m. May 19-20 at the Troy State University band practice field.

Team representatives didn’t go away from the meeting empty-handed. Along with team packets participants left with information on sponsorships, great fundraising ideas and Relay Bucks. The focus of the kickoff was to get people started on building their teams and recruiting sponsors.

Last year, the Pike County Relay for Life campaign surpassed its goal of $90,000 by $31,000. This year due to the support and gracious donations from last year, the goal has been raised to $125,000.

Nedetria Talbot, chairperson of this year’s Relay for Life, said even though the goal is a good bit higher this year she is sure the people of Pike County will make it a success.

"With a goal that high we will depend a lot on sponsorships," Talbot said. "The sponsors underwrite the Relay with monetary donations. All the money goes for the same thing, but the money from the sponsors helps cover any expenses the Relay might incur."

This year Mary Gibson is organizing the sponsors and she said she is pleased with the response already.

"So far the response has been excellent," Gibson said. "We still need more. With a goal of $125,000 the sponsors are very important."

This year there are different levels of sponsorship than in past Relays. Levels of sponsorship this year include Platinum – $1,500, Gold – $1,000, Silver – $500, Bronze - $250, Service sponsor, Luminary sponsor, Survivor sponsor and the All-Star Club sponsor. each sponsor has different, but specific duties depending on the level.

Anyone interested in being at Relay for Life sponsor can contact Mary Gibson at 566-3360.

As important as the sponsors are to the Relay, so are the teams.

Mary Ida Williams is the Team Recruitment chairperson this year and she said there is a push to have at least 60 teams.

Teams can be made up of individuals or from organizations, businesses and churches. Anyone who is interested in forming a team or joining one, Williams said she is willing to help.

"Anyone who is not involved or any business or organization that is thinking about having a team can call me and I will come to them and give a presentation," Williams said.

Williams can be reached at 566-5083.

Teams and sponsors will have additional time in the spotlight this year. Anyone who forms a team or anyone who is a sponsor will have a sign to place in front of their building or home.

"The signs are something new we are doing this year," said Lynne Stone, co-chairperson of Relay for Life. "With the signs, everyone will know who is a part of Relay for Life."

Groups who are sponsors and have a team will have two signs announcing their involvement with the campaign.

With hopes of 60 teams in this year’s Relay for Life and sponsors already signing up, there will be signs everywhere when the event starts.

"We want Troy to be a purple town," Williams said. "We want to paint Pike County purple."