Runway show raises money for childhood cancer work

Atlanta Falcons players, NFL alumni take part in annual program.

The Rally Foundation wanted to find a way to support children who are currently fighting or who have fought cancer. The solution was a special day all their own. The nonprofit held its eighth annual Rally On the Runway at The Stave Room at American Spirit Works with Atlanta Falcons players and NFL alumni. Led by Vic Beasley, the event was to raise money for childhood cancer research.

The foundation first held an intimate Day of Pampering for the Rally Kid models and their mothers. The girls were picked up at their homes in Bentleys and arrived to a red carpet/fanfare and “papparazi” at Bloomingdale’s at Lenox Square. They were then given VIP pampering treatment with their moms to help them prep for the big runway show.

The event featured 11 Rally Kids between the ages of four and 23, who made their modeling debuts, in addition to 15 Rally Kid alumni models, who first walked the runway in previous years.

The runway show brought together families, children and athletes, “to raise money for childhood cancer research, give the Rally families a special memory and provide the grassroots ways to help,” said Dean Crowe, founder and CEO of Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research.

Childhood cancer is the number one disease killer of kids ages 0 to 15, according to organizers. Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research, a nonprofit organization, empowers volunteers across the country to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer research to find better treatments with fewer long-term side effects and, ultimately, cures.

Kristen Sorrell, 13, is beating blood cancer. She has participated in Rally on The Runway since 2010.

“This event is always a blast and it is definitely my favorite event of the year. My favorite part was getting to be backstage and encourage the other kids still kicking cancer’s butt!” said Sorrell. “Not only is it great to raise money for the cause, but it’s even better for the kids to have a break and actually be able to be kids.”

This year’s event raised more than $280,000 for childhood cancer Each Tuesday, we write about charity events such as funruns, volunteer projects and other community gatherings that benefit a good cause. To suggest an event for us to cover, contact Devika Rao at doing.goodAJC@gmail.com. RallyFoundation.org research, the most a Rally On the Runway event has ever raised. Since its founding in 2005, Rally has awarded more than $11 million in grants funding 252 research projects.

“I hope the guests were inspired by the strength of the Rally Kid models and their incredibly long, hard journeys and that they learned about the desperate need for childhood cancer research funding,” said Crowe. “Mostly, I hope that the Rally families took away how much they are loved and memories that will last a lifetime.”

Woodstock to roll back millage rate in budget

A Woodstock city budget for fiscal 2018 that rolls back the millage rate, provides for hiring four new police officers and envisions no water rate increase has had its first reading at the City Council and will come back in June for a second reading and a vote to adopt.

The council is to take up the budget at its regular meeting starting at 7 p.m. June 12 in council chambers, 8534 Main St.

The budget envisions about $40.2 million in total revenues/ expenditures, and the millage rate reduced to 6.801 mills from 6.992 mills, according to a recent budget presentation to the council. The highest the rate has been in recent years was 7.889 in FYI 2013 and 2014.

Recurring general fund revenues are projected to rise by 7 percent, and the net property tax digest is anticipated to be up 6 percent before appeals and exemptions. There would be a 2.5 percent cost-of-living allowance pay increase for city employees, and an increase in the police base salary pay for sworn personnel.

Cumming City Council OKs utility, radio purchases

Cumming City Council members focused on communications and utility-department upgrades at their May meeting.

The Council approved spending $48,718 to purchase 11 Motorola portable radios for the police department. City officials said that upgrades to Forsyth County’s 800 MHz radio system — on which the city operates — will make existing radios inoperable by 2018. The city bought 11 upgraded radios in 2016 and this is the second half of the budgeted purchase.

The Council also approved purchasing two heavy equipment trailers from Country Boy Trailers for $7,850 each and a mini-excavator for the water department from Bobcat of Atlanta for $45,817.