Relay for Life: Wind, rain, cash
Organizers exceed $50,000 goal by $12,000
Staff photos by Dan Parker

The sun sets, the relay begins Cancer survivors take the first lap around Roberts Point Park as Relay for Life events begin on Friday, April 25. After survivors marched, teams of volunteers continued to walk round and round the park, tag-team style, far into the night. Driving rain and high winds forced most walkers to stop in the wee hours. But organizers said Relay for Life was a success, overall, raising more than $62,000 to help fund efforts to find a cure for cancer.

With the air full of music, dozens of people camping in tents and a festival-like feel all around, the event almost had the vibe of a Grateful Dead concert.

But the stars of this show were more like the Grateful-tobe Alive.

The "show" was the third annual Relay for Life in Port Aransas, held to raise funds that go to the American Cancer Society for cancer research in hopes of finding a cure. The event was held Friday, April 25, at Roberts Point Park.

"I'm so excited. Just tell me when to shut up."

That was the comment from Relay for Life co-chairman Lisa Shelton on the Monday after the Relay for Life.

Setting up camp Mack Owens sets up a tent on the Relay for Life grounds. Many teams of walkers set up tents to house supplies and shelter for teammates.

The walk raised $62,000, exceeding organizers' goal of $50,000 by $12,000.

Included in that total is $1,500 raised by each team participating.

"That's very uncommon; we're so proud. Other than raising $62,000, that's an accomplishment in itself," Shelton said of the team fundraising.

The total funds reflect income from events held by teams since last October as well as on-site fundraising that included a silent auction, an obstacle course, a hot dog and hamburger dinner and sponsorships.

Shelton said 375 people were served at the dinner, but there were many more than that at the park on Friday, April 25.

The survivor walk brought 55 people, more than twice the number of survivors who walked last year. They donned purple "survivor" t-shirts and white sashes with purple letters that read, "Survivor."

"It's a matter of more community awareness," Shelton said of the turnout of survivors.

Sharing emotion Eileen Hoffman of Port Aransas, left, and her mother, cancer survivor Alice Broekstra of Aransas Pass share an emotional moment during Relay for Life ceremonies.

Once the survivors made a "lap around the track," they were joined by their caregivers for another lap. After that, at least one member of the 18 participating teams was on the track throughout the night.

Significant, too, in the fundraising, was that at 5 p.m. Friday, the total that had been raised was at $38,000. Between then and 11 o'clock that night, the total grew by $25,000. The $25,000 includes some monies that had not been turned in by teams at the last accounting on April 17.

Shelton said that is a strong indicator that on-site fundraising was successful in not only meeting, but exceeding the goal.

Forecasts for rain proved correct, as it began sprinkling at about 4 a.m. Most teams began breaking down campsites, and Relay for Life committee members began cleaning up the park.

Performance Community Presbyterian Church choir members performing at the Relay for Life are, clockwise from upper left, Tessa Gates, John Fucik, Betty Crawford and flute player Clare Jones.

"By the time the heavy weather hit (about 5 a.m.), most of the teams had picked up the bulk of their stuff," Shelton said.

H.G. Olsen Elementary School Principal Sylvia Buttler, part of a school team called "Reading for a Cure," was walking her leg of the relay when it started raining and lightning lit up the night sky. She made it only about three laps before she, like pretty much everyone else, decided to pack up and leave.

"It was very colorful and kind of creepy," Buttler said. "If it had just been rain, I would have kept walking. But not with lightning."

A couple of tents and some items were victims of the heavy wind and driving rain, Shelton said.

Still, some team members were still on the track, drenched, at 5:30 a.m., Shelton said.

At the end of the event at 7 a.m., some teams and participants were still at the park, and gathered under the main pavilion. They were the ones to receive "I Stayed All Night" badges.

Lighting the luminarias Port Aransas High School junior David Thrasher lights some of the hundreds of luminarias that ringed one end of Roberts Point Park. The luminarias were created in honor of those who have survived cancer and in memory of those who have not.

A wrap-up party is planned for tonight, Thursday, May 1, when the Relay for Life committee will honor sponsors, team captains and others with a barbecue dinner at the Dolphin Room at Cline's Landing.

"We'll have a final tally by then," Shelton said.

South Jetty reporter Dan Parker and editor and co-publisher Mary Henkel Judson collaborated on this story.

Applause From left, cancer survivors John Heinen, Gail Swenson and Bill Otten applaud a speaker at Relay for Life ceremonies.