Small Town News

North Mason Relay schedules fundraisers

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North Mason Relay for Life is working hard to come back strong in 2012 after bringing in record donations in 2011.

"I think we have real good support (in North Mason). We exceeded our goal last year," said Bruce Veitch, North Mason Relay for Life event chair for 2012.

In 2011, North Mason Relay brought in $85,000 $10,000 more than its fundraising goal.

"We reached our goal at the event," Veitch said. "We take money in until August."

This year, North Mason Relay has set its Relay for June 8 and 9 and its fund-raising goal for $83,000. As of this week, the group has already raised $9,455, not counting sponsorships, which are due on April 15, Veitch said.

Groups around North Mason are scheduling fund-raising events.

The North Mason Eagles club hosted a spaghetti feed fundraiser for the North Mason Relay on Friday.

"It's a little tougher times with the sewer coming in," Veitch said.

The event raised $300 and forty people attended. The North Mason Eagles Club has scheduled another fundraiser for 4 p.m. Saturday, May 19.

Other upcoming relay events include a North Mason Relay-For-Life Leo Club Team Car Wash on Sunday, April 1 and monthly Team Captain and Planning Committee meetings on Monday, April 9 and Monday May 14.

The 2012 North Mason Relay theme is "Carnival of Hope."

Veitch got involved in Relay for Life in 2009 the year he lost his wife to lung cancer.

"I'm all about trying to find a cure," he said. "I've lost too many of my friends to this disease."

This is Veitch's first year as chair. He said relay volunteers and friends are helping support him in his first year as chair.

"I'm a new chair this year, it's new for me, I've got the old chair to rely on," he said. "Just trying to get everything going this year, it's a new thing for me."

Publicity Chair Paul Neal described the two-day event as "an all-night par-ty."

Neal attended a North Mason Relay for Life for the first time three years ago with his sister's team. Since then, he's been hooked.

I've been writing checks for years. Three years ago I decided to go out ... I had a heck of a good time," he said. "You kind of had a satisfied feeling when you get done."

"We start at 7 at night (on Friday) and go until the next day," he said.

Each year, the event takes place at North Mason High School. The event has an opening ceremony with music and a guest speaker at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 8, this year.

"We always try to pick a cancer survivor who's local," Neal said. "It's not only educational and fundraising but we like to be entertaining as well."

Neal said the North Mason Relay draws dozens of volunteers and supporters each year. This year 29 teams have already signed up. In 2011, 41 teams gathered at North Mason High school for the event, four of which were high school teams.

"A lot of times these events tend to be older people touched by cancer," he said. "Last year I think we had four high school teams which was really good."

For more information on North Mason Relay, visit www.relayforlifeof-northmason.org.



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