Audrey Barry
Erskine's Relay For Life Nets More Than $7,500
More than $7,500 has been raised, with more expected to be received this week, during the third annual Erskine College Relay for Life. This year's total has already surpassed the $5,900 raised in 2003.
An array of fund-raising efforts in Galloway Gym Friday night ranged from such traditional activities as food and drink sales to a water balloon event in which a human target, junior Terry McCoy of Honea Path, was attached to the wall with duct tape.
All proceeds from the Erskine event go to the American Cancer Society (ACS) through its Abbeville organization and help fund cancer research, scholarships for patients and survivors, and other programs for cancer patients and their families.
More than 225 Erskine students worked in some way for Relay for Life, most of them on 26 teams and some in organizational roles.
"I am amazed by the diverse group involved in Relay for Life here on campus," Erskine Student Activities Director Brooke Clinton said.
Friday's festivities brought in most of the money, but relay teams sponsored events such as bake sales and a silent auction during the preceding week.
"It was awesome," said junior Sarabeth Shoger of Moreland, Ga., who chaired the event. "I was thrilled with the turnout and how much money people raised.
"I was really concerned that I would not be able to carry the torch," she said. "I could not have done it without great committee members who helped me right along, including Brooke Clinton, Wendy Workman, and Christina Ryder, just to name a few."
"We will be receiving more money this week from Dixie High School," said Workman, a senior from Laurens. She said this is the first year that the Erskine event has included Dixie High School teams. The Dixie group was led by Eleanor Logan, history teacher at Dixie and wife of Erskine Vice President for Development Lee Logan.
"I heard that the Dixie unicyclists raised several hundred dollars, and that will be added to the total," said Workman, who was in charge of finances for the Erskine relay along with sophomore Marshall Stein of Clover.
Workman said Women's Tennis, headed by freshman Ellen Dawson of Gainesville, Ga., raised $887, the most money of all the Relay for Life teams.
Clinton said Hoyt Dorn, community income manager for ACS, drove to Due West from Fairfield to support the Erskine event.
"Hoyt Dorn just glows when he talks about the great things Erskine is doing," said Shoger. "Thank you, thank you to Erskine."
Clinton said residents of the Due West Retirement Center were among the community members who purchased luminaries in honor or in memory of loved ones. The luminaries were arranged in a circle around the basketball court in the gym at the opening candlelight ceremony Friday evening.
Freshman Emily Cathcart of Lexington, Ky., was in charge of the ceremony, which included the singing of the national anthem by Erskine Choraleer Jonathan Ruth, a junior from Lexington, and a rendition of "His Eye is on the Sparrow" by sophomore Ashley Pressley of Beech Island, who sings in Erskine's Gospel Choir.
Clinton said sophomore Alison Kolb of Abbeville served as entertainment chairwoman and brought several bands to the event. Freshman Megan Graham of Loris was publicity chairwoman and Ryder, a junior from Cowpens, was recruitment chairwoman.
At least one personal gift challenge played a role in the Relay for Life event Friday. Dr. Stefanie Baker, Erskine biology professor, admitted she was afraid to try the rope swing, supervised by arborist Matt Clinton with the help of Onward and Upward members. Baker told her students that if they could raise $50 in 10 minutes, she would do it. The students came up with $68 and Baker kept her promise.
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