Wednesday, March 28, 2001
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Wednesday, March 28, 2001 |
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Local teacher helps raise awareness for cancer research Teams participating in the 2001 Fayette County Relay for Life event have increased by 500 percent over last year, thanks to the efforts of a teacher at Starr's Mill High School. For a number of years, Laura Wallen has been a regular participant in the Relay for Life, a fund-raiser for cancer research sponsored by the American Cancer Society. She decided to join the fight against cancer because she lost her mother to the disease on her 18th birthday. "Did you know that one person dies of cancer in the state of Georgia every 43 minutes," asks Wallen. "There is no one in our school system that does not have a relative, friend, colleague or student that has battled this vicious disease." When Wallen moved to Fayette from Glynn County and started teaching at Starr's Mill, she immediately inquired about the school system's participation in Relay for Life. To her surprise, she found that most people had not heard of the event. "Where I am from, every school system participates," says Wallen. "I was amazed to learn that the people here did not know what the relay was all about." Determined to form a team for Starr's Mill, Wallen contacted the American Cancer Society to find out who Fayette's chairman was for the relay so that she could start the paperwork. Instead, she learned that there was not a chairman because participation in the county had been very low. A representative at the Cancer Society asked Wallen if she would like to volunteer to head up the event in Fayette. As a working mother of two, she was concerned about the amount of time it would take to recruit participants for the event. Then, she had an idea. "I thought I would see if the Fayette County School System would commit to supporting this event. Each school could form at least one team and that would increase the participation dramatically. Also, it would be an easy and less time consuming way for me to recruit participants," Wallen explains. After getting backing from school Superintendent John DeCotis, Wallen sent a letter to her colleagues at each school explaining what the event was about and asking for their participation. The response was overwhelming. Wallen says her goal was to double the number of teams involved last year from 10 to 20. That goal was surpassed quickly. There are currently 50 teams participating the most Fayette County has ever had. Almost all schools have formed at least one team, but many have created several teams representing various departments at the schools. There are approximately six teams from Starr's Mill alone. Not only are teachers and school administrators getting involved, but also parents, grandparents and other community members. "I have had parents of students call me up and tell me that they are cancer survivors and that they want to be a part of this event," says Wallen. "Getting the schools involved has made a tremendous difference." The Relay for Life will be at Fayette County High School May 18-19. It will be an overnight event packed with fun and entertainment. The relay kicks off on the 18th at 7 p.m. with a survivor walk at the high school's track. Cancer survivors will complete the first lap of the relay and then members from each team will join the survivors on the second lap. Each team must keep two members on the track at all times. Although anyone can participate in the walk, a team must raise $1,000 to participate. Teams spend the night walking and socializing with people from all over the community. There will be live bands and a children's area, and teams will be selling food out of their tents to raise additional money for the fight against cancer. Also, a luminary ceremony will honor the memories of those who lost their battle with cancer. Money raised from the event will stay in Fayette County to help fund research, public and medical education, and patient services. Wallen says her goal was to raise $35,000 but she thinks that figure has already been met in entry fees alone. She expects that the total amount raised will surpass $65,000. "I am extremely excited about how everything is coming together. As a teacher, I am so happy to see the schools showing commitment to this project. This is something that is near and dear to my heart," Wallen says. There is still time for people to form teams for the relay, donate prizes or volunteer. Anyone interested in participating can contact Wallen at 770-460-8920 or 770-486-9944.
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