First Posted: 4/30/2009

LUMBERTON One day. One night. One community.
Thats the ongoing theme of the American Cancer Societys Relay for Life, an annual event that raises money for cancer research that returns to Robeson County on Friday.
The 2009 Robeson County Relay for Life will be held at Brooks Stadium at Lumberton High School beginning at 2 p.m. and will end Saturday at the same time.
We plan to have something going the whole time. Once we have our opening ceremonies, its going to be non-stop action all the way through, Chairman Robin Jones said.
Relay For Life is an overnight community celebration during which individuals and teams camp out, barbecue, dance, and take turns walking around a track to raise money. The event remembers those who have died from the disease as well as cancer survivors.
The goal is to raise $220,000, which is $8,000 more than last year. So far, 78 teams representing 2,506 participants have registered and raised $140,000, Jones said.
Highlighting the evening is a luminaria Ceremony of Hope held after dark to honor cancer survivors and to remember loved ones lost to cancer.
“We want to encourage everyone in the community to come out. We’ve got lots of entertainment, and the luminaria at 9 p.m. we’d love everyone to be there for that,” said Jones.
Teams will have set-up time from 2 to 5 p.m. Opening ceremonies will begin at 6:45 p.m., followed by the Survivor Lap, Caregiver Lap, Parade of Teams and the Kid’s Lap.
Children’s activities are sponsored by Allen Orthopedics and will be held immediately after the completion of the Kid’s Lap.
Entertainment will be provided by local queens, drama teams and various singers.
A church service will be held on Saturday at 9 a.m. with the Rev. Mattheue Locklear from Sandy Plains United Methodist Church.
The Survivor Luncheon will be held at noon and is expected to attract hundreds of people.
The singing Peay Brothers will perform at 12:40 p.m. Saturday The closing ceremony will follow at 1:45 p.m. with the Fight Back Ceremony and the Parade of Teams.
Jones said a committee of more than 20 people help the event be successful. She pointed out the efforts this year of corporate sponsorship Chairman Mike Tyson and kid’s activities Chairman Jamie Jones.
As of mid-week, 615 survivors had registered to take part, according to Pam Clark, director of the Gibson Cancer Center, an affiliate of Southeastern Regional Medical Center.
“We would like to encourage all cancer survivors in the region to visit the Survivor Tent …,” Clark said. Our mission is to support those who are undergoing cancer treatments as well as those who are returning to their daily routines following treatment for cancer.”
To join the local Relay For Life effort, call (910) 733-6780. For information, visit www.relayforlife.org/robesonnc.