Weather forced a location change at the last minute for the Stutsman County Relay for Life. But the event was a success and this year's goal of $160,000 looks to be in the bag, event organizers said.
The event normally held at Rollie Greeno Field at Jamestown College was relocated to the Stutsman County Fairgrounds at 9 a.m. Friday due to the threat of severe weather, said Connie Haas, Relay co-chair.
"We were kind of unsure of the weather and this way people have the buildings if they need them," Haas said. The Relay for Life also ended at 1 a.m. today instead of running through the night because of a forecasted storm.
The Stutsman County Fair Board donated the site around the gazebo and use of buildings for free.
When the Relay for Life started at 6 p.m. Friday, about 4,500 luminarias lined the sidewalks by the gazebo. More were sold as the event went on. By 6 p.m. around $133,000 overall was raised by 44 teams consisting of nearly 700 members. More donations were also expected after the event.
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While fewer spectators attended, the Relay still went well, said Bev Schaack, Relay publicity chair.
The number of teams was also down this year to 44 from 51 last year. But because of a few strong teams and late donations, the overall goal was within reach.
Teams consisted of businesses, churches and families. They sold everything from pork sandwiches to baked goods, to bracelets, with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society, which is why Schaack said the goal would be met.
Loretta Jung, a two-time cancer survivor, Sam Liecthy, brain cancer survivor and Jamestown High School graduate, and his sister, Mariah Liecthy, started the event by leading the survivors lap.
Jung, who was also the Relay "cheerleader," kept people as positive as she was during her cancer battles.
"Attitude, you got to have a great attitude in everything. But when you walk through this you need to surround yourself with good people," Jung said.
She praised the work of cancer caregivers, like her husband, Oliver, and said attitude was the key for her cancer battles and everything else in life.
"It's a little late to get a good attitude when you're going through something," she said.
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Katie Andersen, Jamestown mayor-elect, spoke at the event and reminded Relay participants the importance of what they are doing.
"This is a great testimony for the generosity of this community," she told the crowd.
The event was a remembrance of people who have been lost to cancer. It was a celebration for those who have fought it and won, and it was a time to fight back with proceeds going to research and development, Schaack said.
Sun reporter Ben Rodgers can be reached at 701-952-8455 or by e-mail at brodgers@jamestownsun.com
