Relay For Life Wrap-up Held (with photo gallery)

On August 30, 2018 a Celebration and Wrap Up was held for Relay For Life of Dillon County. The Relay year was closed out by recognizing milestones met during Relay For Life this year.
Kimberly Driggers, 2018 Event Team Lead welcomed everyone. Kimberly shared some of the milestones reached this year. The goal for this year was $57,000. There were 21 registered teams, 238 registered participants and 94 registered survivors who joined together to Give Cancer The Boot. Together a total of $70,569.94 was raised, greatly exceeding the set goal.
After the blessing, guests were treated to pizza, cake, and soft drinks which were all donated.
The top six fundraising teams were: Mount Calvary Baptist Church-1st, Anderson Brothers Bank-2nd, Lake View High School-3rd, Open Door Community Church-4th, Mann & Hummel Filtration Technology-5th, East Dillon Baptist Church-6th. Other teams recognized for fundraising were Kemper Baptist Church, Second Baptist Church, Dillon Church of God, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church/We Are Family, S.W.A.T., Lake View Elementary School, Main Street Methodist Church, Latta Baptist Church, S.H.E.is…Kicking Cancer (Stewart Heights Elementary), Dillon High School, VICTORIES, Roger’s Convenience, Voice of the Living Word Church, Dillon County Sheriff’s Department and Bad Gator. It was a collective effort by these teams that made Relay For Life a success this year.
Kemper Baptist Church was recognized as Rookie Team of The Year. Barbara Ford of Open Door Community Church was recognized as Rookie Captain of The Year.
The top ten fundraising individuals were: Faith Mew, Kim Driggers, Hazel Jackson, Summer Bryant-cook, Frances McDuffie, Dell Driggers, Somer Stubbs, Shannon Bryant, Amy Bracey and Wendy Daniel. Many others worked tirelessly in fundraising.
Special Community Service Awards were presented to Ron Barfield – Dillon Motor Speedway, Robbie McDaniel – Latta Rescue Squad, Sheriff Major Hulon – Dillon County Sheriff’s Department. This group allowed a safe, secure venue with emergency medical staff on site.
Priscilla Bethea was recognized as the most recently diagnosed survivor in attendance. When she was diagnosed she had no idea what might lay ahead. She was very scared by the diagnosis and didn’t know how to proceed. Kim Driggers volunteered to go with her to her next appointment. Priscilla cried tears of joy at her prognosis and said that she didn’t know what she would have done without Kim’s help.
The final award of the evening was a very special award. Laura ‘Sam’ Caulder was a team member for the very first Relay For Life in Dillon County in October of 1995. She was on the Franco team for several years, including one year after her retirement. When she left this team, it was to begin a new team at Second Baptist Church. Laura, affectionately called Sam by many, has worked very hard as Team Captain over the years. Due to family health issues, Laura has resigned as Team Captain. She is no longer able to dedicate the time and work that she has for so long. She says that she will remain involved in Relay For Life, and will be there, just not as Team Captain.
Faith Mew emotionally presented Laura the award. She said that once she asked Laura to participate in 1995, Laura was in 100%. She described Laura as one of the hardest working, most committed ladies she had ever had the pleasure to know. Laura’s husband had just been discharged from the hospital on the afternoon of the Wrap-Up. As usual, Laura was present. Her son stayed at home with her husband so that she could be present at the Relay Wrap-Up.
The award reads:
Presented To Laura ‘Sam’ Caulder Charter Participant Dillon County Relay For Life
Thank you for Twenty-Three Years Of Dedication and Service 1995-2018 August 30, 2018
Kim Driggers, along with the 2018 Event Leadership Team would like to thank each one who played any part, no matter the size, in making this year such a very special year.
Mark your calendars for May 4, 2019, and make plans to attend Relay For Life of Dillon County – 2019.

PHOTO GALLERY
Contributed Photos
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