$43,000 collected at Relay's 'Bank Day'
Annual fundraiser for cancer research begins tonight

Jackie Drake, left, who chairs the 2008 Relay for Life, hands over team T-shirts to Judy Butler of the Robert Allen Group.

More than $43,000 in donations for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life poured into Palmetto Bank on Thursday morning as the Relay for Life committee celebrated its annual "Bank Day."

Donations kept coming in throughout the afternoon and organizers of this year's event, which starts tonight, hope to be able to announce Saturday morning whether they have reached their goal.

The American Cancer Society set a goal for Cherokee County of $220,000 this year.

Last year's goal of $180,000 was exceeded by $50,000 when Cherokee County raised $230,000.

The Robert Allen Group turned in just over $15,000 in donations to the American Cancer Society on "Bank Day" and it will have about 119 people participating in Relay for Life.

The event will be held at the Timken Company's Gaffney Roller Bearing Plant track beginning at 7 p.m. today.

The Blacksburg High School Marching Wildcats and the Gaffney High School Band of Gold will play together in observance of the Cancer Survivors' Lap at approximately 7 p.m. following the opening prayer.

After the Survivors' Lap, there will be a Caregivers' Lap and a team captains/ teams lap.

Musical performances will continue at 8 p.m. with Angie Wilkerson and Higher Praise.

Around 8:30 p.m., announcements and information will be presented regarding items which are being sold at various team tents.

A wide variety of food will be available for purchase.

The First Baptist Cooks and Friends team will once again hold a large silent action which is always a popular friendly competition at the local Relay.

The annual Luminary Service will take place at dusk, approximately 9 p.m. This time of reflection and remembrance of cancer victims will include music by members of First Baptist Church of Gaffney.

Everyone is encouraged to respectfully and quietly participate in this silent lap around the track in remembrance of those friends and relatives who have lost their lives to cancer.

A festive atmosphere will resume at 10 p.m. when the Relay Idol and the So You Think You Can Dance for Relay competitions take place.

By donating $5 per act, contestants may perform onstage. At the conclusion of this segment, the audience will vote for the best performances.

A variety of entertainment will continue throughout the night and early morning with assistance from local disc jockey Todd Bright, who will donate his services to the event.

Relay For Life teams will participate in a trivia competition at approximately 2 a.m. on Saturday morning.

The final scheduled activity of this year's Relay will be the closing ceremony at 7 a.m. on Saturday morning, May 10.