Baldwin residents fight for the cure

Published 12:15 pm Saturday, March 14, 2015

Baldwin County is one of several communities worldwide busy preparing for  Relay for Life. 

The annual Relay event has quickly become a larger than life program that brings several people together for a common cause.

According to the American Cancer Society, each year, more than 4 million people in more than 20 countries raise much-needed funds and awareness to save lives from cancer through the Relay For Life movement.  

Baldwin County residents have already begun preparing for the event, slated for 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, April 10  at Baldwin High School Stadium. 

Thus far, the 40 registered teams with 317 participants have raised $13,140.95. 

Last year, 44 teams and 539 participants involved in Baldwin’s Relay for Life raised $93,077.38. 

“I hope the whole community comes out to support these cancer survivors and those who lost the fight,” said Pam Tindal, teacher at Baldwin High School. “It will mean a great deal to their family and friends.”

This year, Tindal serves as the logistics chair for the cancer event, but she has always worked for Relay for Life.

“I’ve been involved in different capacities of Relay for Life for about 10 or 11 years now,” she said, “I think it will always be a part of my life.”

When she first became involved in Relay for Life, Tindal said she didn’t know of anyone with cancer, but as years passed both her mother and father were diagnosed. 

Her mother lost the battle with a rare form of cancer, but her father is still alive having survived his bout with prostate cancer. 

“I think being a part of Relay for Life before the cancer set in prepared me for what was to come and helped me understand my parents’ struggle,” said Tindal. 

During this month’s installment of Milledgeville Main Street’s First Friday, local Relay for Life teams set up booths throughout downtown Milledgeville. 

“Each team did different activities to help raise funds for Relay for Life. Some sold homemade items or cookies while others had raffles and did facepainting,” said Nancy Davis Bray.

Bray is part of the event leadership team for Relay for Life. 

A survivor dinner will be held Tuesday, April 7 at First United Methodist Church of Milledgeville. 

Jane Barnard serves as survivor committee chair. 

“I am a cancer survivor of eight years,” she said. “Cancer touches each of us — sometimes more than once. Having the support of other survivors in our community has been a blessing for me and will continue to be.”

Last year, the survivor committee exceeded its goal of 175 registered survivors with a total of 181 survivors registered for Baldwin County. 

Registered cancer survivors also walk a lap during Relay for Life. 

“After the opening ceremony for the Relay for Life event, the survivors will kick off the actual Relay as they walk with other cancer survivors alone for the first half lap around the track. Our community will celebrate them as they walk with others who share a special bond and camaraderie because of cancer experiences,” Barnard said. 

For more information about the local Relay for Life, to volunteer, donate, or join a team call Keisha Fields at 487-731-0913or email keisha.fields@cancer.org. 

Survivors who have not made reservations for the survivor dinner are asked to call Barnard at 478-295-2363 or email janebarnard@charter.net.