HAMLET — In addition to the fundraisers, employee drives, and the event-night sales, numerous local businesses have already helped the Richmond County Relay For Life’s cause by purchasing sponsorships for this year’s fundraising efforts.
The marquee event of the local fundraising campaign for the American Cancer Society will take place rain or shine Friday on the campus of Richmond Community College. This event unites communities to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and provide an opportunity to take action for lifesaving change, organizers say. Dollars raised allow the American Cancer Society to help people facing the disease today, educate people about how to reduce their risk for cancer or detect it early when it’s the easiest to treat, and fund cancer research that will help protect future generations.
“This year’s sponsors have already given us a big lift towards our $90,000 community goal,” said Cameron Whitley, community manager for the local district. “It is a big goal, but we feel good about reaching it after last year’s efforts were so strong. Major goals like this year’s are unreachable without the generosity of our local businesses.”
This year’s platinum sponsor is Cascades Tissue Group, a local pulp paper manufacturer that has been a mainstay for several years at the fundraiser.
Silver sponsors include Pee Dee Electric, DHI Builders, Trinty Manufacturing, Piedmont Natural Gas, TRG Sign Company, Richmond County Hospice, Tri-Cook Electric, Superior Crane, Perdue, Tri-City, Inc., and Medical Center Pharmacy.
Bronze Sponsors for this year are Alpha Mu Chapter of the APC Society, FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital, Mini-Maxi Storage, Sandhills Regional Medical Center, Richmond County Sheriff’s Department, Murphy Chiropractic, Acts of Kindness Adult Care and Services, Von Drehle, Community Home Care and Hospice, and Richmond County Farm Bureau.
Signature Sponsors include City of Rockingham, City of Hamlet, Convenience Corner, Dieffenbach GMC Superstore, East Rockingham Men’s Club, Family Pharmacy, Jelgo Electrical, Murphy Electric Supply, Inc., Quality Oil and Gas, Rockingham Church of God of Prophecy, Sugg Logging, LLC, Therafirm, Kendrick’s Professional Detailing, and Dance Sensations and Gymnastics
Gabrielle Goodwin, of silver sponsor Tri City, Inc., summed up her thoughts about donating to the cause.
“Cancer is a battle that we here at Tri-City have all encountered, whether it be my family or the families of our employees,” she said. “It is a fight that has touched us all on a personal level and we simply want to do our part to combat the disease and help those affected.”
Jamie Brooks, volunteer committee chairperson, remarked about the sponsor’s presence during the May 5 event.
“You will see a lot of these sponsors tents on Relay night, too,” she said. “Not only did these companies step up to make sizable donations, but their employees are volunteers on our organizing committee, have been having employee fundraising activities, and will be raising money during the big event.”
There is yet another way sponsors will be recognized.
“Helping to mark off the relay track will be signs from our trackside sponsors,” Whitley said.
The corrugated plastic signs are branded with company names providing another brand/company recognition opportunity.
In addition to the opportunity to promote local businesses or organizations, the trackside signs are sometime purchased to be memorials or honorariums for those affected by cancer.
“We have had signs purchased with the names of loved ones who have fought the good fight against cancer,” Whitley remarked
The Richmond County community joins with communities from around the world for the largest fundraising event to fight back against cancer. The annual Relay For Life is branded as such because of the team relays that take place from just after the opening ceremonies at 6 p.m. until the event ends at midnight.
“When teams sign up, they are reminded that they have to have a team member walking the track for the entire event,” Brooks said. “This relay and continual presence on the track reminds us that those fighting cancer can’t just step away from their battle against cancer. Six hours to spend fundraising and walking is a small sample of the hours that cancer patients and their families spend fighting.”
More information about the sponsorship opportunities, as well as others ways to get involved, can be found online at www.facebook.com/richmondncrelay and www.relayforlife.org/richmondnc, or by phone at 910-334-0207.