Gwinnett Relay for Life hits record $1.8 million
By Phylecia Wilson
Chair, SE Division (Ga., SC, NC)
Relay for LIfe Task Force
for GwinnettForum.com

June 1, 2001 -- True to its history, the American Cancer Society's Gwinnett Relay For Life has done it again! Serving their second year as co-chairs, Sugar Hills' Linda Story and Snellville's Barbara Verzyl led the troops to surpass last year's total of $1.4 million and the 2001 goal of $1.7 million. The net so far - $1.807 million---and we're still counting!

With matching dollars from participating corporations and money yet to be collected by participants, the total is still climbing, according to Senior Community Income Manager Sandy Ray. "Our fiscal year ends on August 31, so we won't have the final tally until then," she said.

With arch-rival Virginia Beach's (Va.) Relay to be held this weekend (June 1-2), it is still not known who will win the annual challenge between the two events. Last year Virginia Beach raised just $100,000 more than Gwinnett. Their goal is to raise $2 million this year. "They called the Monday after our event to find out how we did," Ray laughed. A new wrinkle this year was a PT Cruiser donated by Hayes Chrysler which netted $163,000 for Gwinnett!

Regardless of who wins the challenge, the goal of both events is to raise as much money as possible to help fight the battle against cancer, says Verzyl. She marvels at how the Gwinnett community comes out in full force to the Relay each year.

"We all are hopeful that our efforts will result in a cure someday. With this money going for research, it encourages people to participate" she said. "I can't get over how the Gwinnett Relay has grown and continues to grow each year. It is such a blessing to see people from all sectors of the county involved and to see how one team so often grows to two, three or more in subsequent years." She cites her own Westminster Presbyterian Church, which grew from one team two years ago to three this year.

Story recalls she felt frustrated for years after a friend lost her six-year-old son to cancer. "I felt helpless," she said. "What could I do? I was only one person. Then, six years ago I got involved in Relay For Life. Now I know I am helping to make a difference."

Story, a secretary at Collins Hill High School, cannot praise Gwinnett County Public Schools enough for their efforts. Nearly every school in the system participates, some with multiple teams that total more than 250 each year for the past three years. Last year schools raised $665,000. Totals for this year are not yet available.

Gwinnett's Relay growth is mirrored by that of the entire country. Last year, nationwide, Relay For Life netted close to $170 million, a 33 per cent ($42 million) increase from the year before. This, in spite of the fact that overall charitable giving increased by only 3.2 per cent last year, after adjusting for inflation. This was the lowest rate of increase in five years, according to a report published last week by the American Association of Fund-Raising Council.

The Southeast Division of the American Cancer Society, comprised of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, is currently 20 per cent ahead of last year in Relay dollars. "New events will add $1 million new dollars and existing sites are averaging an increase of $21,000," said Reuel Johnson, national director of the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life.

Soon, Gwinnett Relay Steering Committee members will meet with a new job: setting the goal for the 2002 Relay. If all goes as in the past, the new goal will seek to raise even more in Gwinnett to help cure cancer. Who knows? Gwinnett might even seek to raise $2 million in Relay for Life next year!

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