Community gathers for Relay for Life at fairgrounds
Participants raised over $121K this year
Saturday’s rainy weather moved the annual Relay For Life of Charles County indoors at the Charles County Fairgrounds, where participants raised more than $121,000 for the American Cancer Society.
The event was held in the show ring building at the fairgrounds in La Plata. The show ring had vendors and participating teams set up with tables, as well as food trucks outside.
“Despite having to move our event inside due to the weather, the Relay was fantastic,” Melissa Matthews, community development manager for the Northeast Region American Cancer Society Inc., said.
“The teams, survivors and participants took the rain plans in stride and came out to raise money and fight back against cancer in their community,” Matthews said.
Andrea Henderson, second vice president of Nu Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, said that she and the women of the sorority were supporting three women, including herself, who have either been diagnosed or survived cancer. Henderson is a cancer survivor.
As a part of “The Uplifters” team, Megan Magill and Kayla Cooksey, both of Charlotte Hall, were walking in Relay For Life this year to support their mother, Leigh Cooksey, who was diagnosed with breast cancer just a year ago.
Magill said that she never realized how many people cancer effects until it happened to someone in her own family.
“We’re all here supporting everyone who has
been effected by cancer,” Magill said.
Karen Costa, who’s mother passed away from cancer five years ago, created the “Celebrate Anne” team in order to participate and raise money for Relay For Life in honor of her mother, Anne Costa.
Costa said that she and her family has participated in Relay For Life for five years and they had a goal of raising $50,000. She said as of Saturday, “Celebrate Anne” has raised $75,000 in five years.
“Celebrate Anne” was listed as the top team for fundraising for the Relay For Life Charles County, raising a total of $14,000 this year.
“We’re celebrating that today,” Costa said.
According to the Relay for Life Charles County website, there were 362 participants and 69 teams participating in this year’s event, which raised $121,787.
“All donations raised by the American Cancer Society (ACS) go to support research, education and programs and services. Money raised here in Charles County will benefit the local community in a variety of ways and the ACS has recently awarded four grants in the state of Maryland totaling $2.7 million. Without the countless volunteers and their amazing fundraising efforts here in Charles County, these grants would not be possible,” Matthews said.
Many Charles County Public Schools participated and raised funds for the event Saturday. Six schools made the top 10 teams for fundraising on the Relay for Life website: La Plata High School, Barnhart Elementary School, Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School, Dr. James Craik Elementary School, Dr. Gustavus Brown Elementary School and Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School. The College of Southern Maryland also made the top 10 list.