By Fred Guarino
The Lowndes Signal

The 2013 Lowndes County Relay for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society on Friday, April 26 at 6 p.m. at the Russell Baseball Complex in Hayneville is getting closer and plans are calling for an all-nighter.

This year’s theme is “Relaying Around The World,” and the goal is $43,000.

However, the big news is, “We are excited to announced that we are going from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.,” said Zandra Colston who is co-chairman of the event with Lakeisha McCoverey. “We are encouraging everybody to bring lawn chairs, blankets, sleeping bags and tents…Anything you will need to camp out.”

She said that until 8 p.m. there will be open bidding or purchasing of the baked goods donated by Carolyn Dubose, Willease Cabble, Mary Yelder and Vera Mickles, but she said, “We are still looking for Lowndes County great bakers to help us out with this.”

Until 12 midnight donations will be received for an opportunity to win a beautiful quilt made and donated by Snow Hill’s Quilting Community, Colston said. She said tickets are $1 for one or $5 for 10.

She expressed thanks to Pastor Dale Braxton, Floretta Timmons and the Snow Hill quilting community.

There are 18 teams registered this year including:

Charles Smith Courthouse Annex – Linda Maddox; DHR Stars – Jackie Lee; Yolanda Thomas Crusaders/Friendship Baptist Church – Sophia Thomas; Greater Mt. Olive Baptist Church – Vera Mickles; Pink Flamingos – Laura Gresham; Fighting to Win – Glenda McMeans;

Educators Against Cancer 2013 – Bernard Mitchell; SABIC – Kristy Brown; Lt. Green’s Army – Ardrell Greene; Snow Hillians Angels 2013 – Floretta Timmons; Hinson’s Heroes – Eddie Hinson; Rock Creek Conquers – Willease Cabble; SWAC – Suoliver Jackson;

Lily Fight For Life – David Daniels and Felicia McQueen; New Age Hippy – Mary Thompson; Legal Eagles – Adrian Johnson; Granny Warriors – Geraldine Lusane; and The Faithful Few – Mary Yelder.

“Callie Griffin is heading the Paint the Town Purple Campaign and is asking every church in the County that has not gotten involved to support this cause by donating $25 dollars for every bow that’s requested,” Colston said.

She said luminaries are still being sold with bags going for $5 and sky lanterns going for $15 each.

She said they will also be available the night of relay with Shirley McCall chairing this committee.

“We thank our 2013 Sponsors: SABIC, Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, Lily Missionary Baptist Church, Lowndes County Commissioners, Dr. Thomas and Lyn Cawthon and Eddie Hinson, Ruby Jones-Thomas-Circuit Clerk, Jimmy Davis Auto Repair, Tom Coker & Assoc. and Subway,” Colston said.