×

Wood County Relay for Life wraps up another year

Photo by Jeffrey Saulton Darla Coe, team captain for Highmark, has been a volunteer at the Relay for Life the past eight years, but this was her first time as a team captain.

PARKERSBURG — Despite a lower number of teams, the 25th annual Wood County Relay for Life came to an end Saturday morning collecting an estimated $70,000 to continue the battle against cancer.

Carmen Hathaway, senior community development manager, said the Relay had 57 teams walking to raise money and 75 volunteers who kept things running smoothly. She said the total she announced was an estimated gross, and the final tally of money collected will be posted in the coming week.

“We had a couple of new teams this year, there was some really great energy last night. It was awesome — of course the weather cooperated,” Hathaway said Saturday. “We thank all of our teams who participated and worked so very hard on collecting donations.”

Darla Coe was team captain for Highmark. This year was her first year as a team captain. For the previous seven years she was part of the Relay when she worked for Suddenlink and now she was there as a Highmark employee.

Coe said when she got the opportunity to work with the Relay for Highmark she took it immediately.

Photo by Jeffrey Saulton Bob Macy takes down the tent for the Bob’s Sluggers team just before the closing ceremonies for the Wood County Relay for Life at City Park on Saturday.

“When they sent out emails asking for help, I jumped right on it,” she said. “It’s close to my heart as far as my family goes and it’s something I’ve always been very passionate about.”

Kelly Anderson works for the American Cancer Society as the Strategic Director for Innovation Research and her twin daughters have been volunteers for a few years. She said they have been at the Relay since they were about 6 months old.

“They were at their first Relay in their strollers — not this one but where we lived in Pennsylvania,” Anderson said.

Abby Anderson said she and her sister work a lot in the community.

“We like helping others,” she said.

Shelby Anderson said she stayed with helping Relay since she enjoys doing community service work.

“I’m a pageant title holder and I like doing community service,” said the 2017 Miss West Virginia Winter Fest Teen.

Shelby added they also worked with a mini Relay at Parkersburg Catholic Elementary and coordinated a Daffodil Days Sale for Relay this year.

Jay Wilson, manger of Kohl’s, said a number of store employees participated in a team at Relay. He said when they help in projects like Relay the company contributes money to the cause. He said he did not how long the company has been part of the Wood County Relay.

“I’ve been here 11 years and we’ve here every year since then,” he said. “Kohl’s has contributed $16 million across the country to Relay for Life, as well as March of Dimes, Muscular Dystrophy Association and Special Olympics.”

Across the river in Belpre, the Washington County Relay for Life also came to a close Saturday morning at Civitan Park.

Tracy Barnhouse, community development manager for the American Cancer Society’s Washington County Relay, said 51 teams registered for the event but she didn’t have final figures for the number of participants.

This was her first year working with the Washington County event and she enjoyed the experience.

“Everything went very well,” she said.

Barnhouse estimated over $90,000 was raised by the Washington County Relay.

“We’re less than $10,000 from our goal and we have until Aug. 31 to meet that,” she said.

Staff Writer Wayne Towner also contributed to this article.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today