The 2009 Relay For Life will have a bright new face as it has two new Chairpersons heading up the Planning Committee this year.  Nychelle Williams, Senior Community Manager of the South Atlantic Division proudly announced this week that Anne Williams and Chris Mothorpe have both agreed to serve as Co-Chairpersons of the 2009 Relay For Life.  The annual event will be held on Friday, May 1, 2009 at the former Kiwanis Fairgrounds in Fayetteville. 

Both of the new Chairpersons are life long residents of Fayette County.  Anne Williams is employed by Piedmont Fayette Hospital as a Staffing Coordinator.  Anne has served as a Relay For Life Team Captain and most recently served on the 2008 Relay Planning Committee as the Survivor Development Chairperson.  Anne coordinated and organized the 2008 Survivor Dinner, which was a resounding success.  Anne’s husband Ken is a cancer survivor of two years with AML leukemia.   

When asked why she chose to take on this big project, Anne replied, “Everyday I see people old and young touched and consumed by this devastating disease and I want to do more. There are phone calls to make, monies to raise and we need to educate the majority of people who are not aware of the many services that the American Cancer Society provides.  I know so many people that have this in their family or in their friends or in their church or school and I feel compelled daily to get up and get out and let people know what they can do to help. The next dollar we raise could go to the research that finally cures that child with cancer, so that my son's friends do not experience the loss of a parent or a sibling.”

When Chris Mothorpe was asked why he volunteered to serve as the Relay Committee Chairperson he replied, “There are two reasons I Relay, the first is that I hope that one day my children will not have to bear the burden of cancer and the second is that as a Christian I am supposed to live my life in service of others. Relay is one way I have chosen to serve others.”

Chris Mothorpe has a notable volunteer career in serving others.  In 2007 he was named the Fayette County YMCA Volunteer of the Year.  Chris has served as a Counselor for the YMCA, an Advisor for the Y’s Leaders Club, where teens gain significant leadership skills and knowledge.  Chris helped to establish and has served as the Co-Chairperson of Friends of Fayette, a YMCA alumni association for campers and counselors. He also devotes his time to Habitat for Humanity, has served as a Team Captain for Relay for Life, and has been on the Relay Planning Committee for two years.  Chris is a 2005 graduate of Georgia Tech and is pursuing a PhD in Economics at Georgia State University.

Anne and Chris are busy recruiting additional volunteers for the 2009 Relay For Life of Fayette County Planning Committee.  If you are interested in joining Anne, Chris, and a host of other volunteers, please contact the American Cancer Society office at 770-631-0625, or see the web site at: www.events.cancer.org/rflfayettecounty

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