By Melissa Thompson
Congratulations to Dillon County on a job well done! Once again everyone did an outstanding job of participating, camp decorations and spirit. It is getting harder every year to give these awards due to growing competition.
A quick recap of the awards and recognition follows. If you received an award and need to pick it up, please contact me at 843.841.3716.
The following teams received awards:
– Best Decorated Campsite:  Latta Baptist Church
-Best Decorated Team Banner:  Mount Calvary Baptist Church
-Team Spirit Award:  Mount Calvary Baptist Church
– Best New Team:  Perdue
-Top Money Raising Team:  Perdue
The following teams received certificates for participating and fundraising:  Dillon Christian School, Dillon Congregational Holiness Church, Harbor Freight Tools, Ladies of Liberty (Liberty Tax Service), Latta Baptist Church, Lauren’s Legacy, Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Open Door Community Church, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Second Baptist Church, Second Chance, Wix, Team Avon, Team Love, Team Melissa “Mindy” Perritt, and VICTORIES.
The corporate sponsors were recognized.
Interesting statistics from this year’s Relay for Life:
Survivor Tea Sponsored by FeliciTeas:
Survivors:  16
Guests:  21
Survivor Dinner sponsored by Mount Calvary Baptist Church:
Survivors:  69
Caregivers:  22
Guests:  25 plus
Survivors at Relay:  approximately 50
Luminaries:  752 (official count)
In Memory:  468
In Honor:  284
Registered Teams:  17
Registered Team Members:  374
Business Signs Sold:  53
In-Kind Sponsors:  2
The Relay Committee was recognized and received appreciation lapel pins from ACS Staff Partner, Kathy Stokes; Event Chair – Melissa Thompson, Luminaria – Amy and Darrel Bracey, Accounting –Vickie Tompkins, Entertainment/Activities – Melissa Thompson and Kathy Elrod, Survivors –Jenny Hood, Publicity/Marketing – Faith Mew, Logistics –Don Thompson, Other Volunteers – Angie Wall, Michele Lane, Buddy Hatcher, Greg Hatcher, Bobby Meekins, Lance Rogers and countless others including Boy Scout Troops from all over Dillon County
The following team captains were recognized and received appreciation lapel pins:  Vickie Tompkins (Dillon Christian School); Jimmy Bryant (Dillon Congregational Holiness Church); Renetta Miller (Harbor Freight Tools); Lisa Ward (Ladies of Liberty); Libby Ammons (Latta Baptist Church), Susan Dickens (Lauren’s Legacy); Gene Hill, Bobbie Lee, Kim Tanner (Mount Calvary Baptist Church); Marie Hardy (Open Door Community Church); Fulton Lane (Pleasant Grove Baptist Church); Laura “Sam” Caulder (Second Baptist Church); Hazel Jackson (Second Chance); Ernie Adams (Wix); Jessica Hinson (Team Avon); Julie Clark (Team Love); April Davis (Team Melissa “Mindy” Perritt); and Melissa Thompson (VICTORIES).
Several individuals were awarded the coveted Grand Club Shirt for raising $1,000 or more:  Vickie Tompkins (Dillon Christian School) Susan Dickens (Lauren’s Legacy), Faith Mew (Mount Calvary Baptist Church), Melissa Thompson (VICTORIES), Bobbie Lee (Mount Calvary Baptist Church), and Janet Bethea (Perdue).
Congratulations on a job well done and I HOPE to see you all next year!
I want to once again say “thank you” to all sponsors, both corporate and in-kind, committee members, team captains and team members, staff partner – Kathy Stokes. Without your hard work, commitment and dedication our event would not be possible. It is through your kind and giving spirits that our Relay Event is so successful. Thanks to you – Dillon County, we raised a whopping $61,167 and still counting for the American Cancer Society!
The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based volunteer health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service. Remember if you or a loved one ever find yourself in need of cancer information, ACS is only a phone call away @ 800-227-2345 and available 24/7.