Around eight months ago, I received an email from Sharon Arnold at the American Cancer Society explaining that, without the community stepping up, there would no longer be a World Golf Village Relay for Life supporting cancer research for the American Cancer Society. I forwarded that email out to Davidson Realty’s agents and to my surprise, Realtors Amy Anderson and Debra Pappas took the entire project on themselves. With the blood, sweat and tears of the amazing committee members, World Golf Village’s Relay for Life on Saturday, March 29, raised $7,000 in one day. A total of $29,135.90 was raised for the entire event.

There were 18 teams in total supporting the Relay, including the top raising group Team Hope. There was tons of school support from Mill Creek Elementary, Wards Creek Elementary, Pacetti Bay Middle School, and Palencia Elementary School. Local businesses including Walgreens, Davidson Realty and Nike formed teams as well to get behind the cause.  More than 180 neighbors, friends, survivors and community members came out to support the American Cancer Society, the official sponsor of birthdays.

The Relay was such a fun time starting at noon on Saturday, March 29, and ending at 6 a.m. on Sunday, March 30. Teams were selling everything from pizza to capes for this year’s superhero theme to raise money. One of the most special parts of the fundraiser is the luminaria event, honoring those who have lost their battle to cancer. The field at Mill Creek Elementary was filled with luminarias decorated by loved ones to pay tribute. It’s always a very moving part of the event and this year was no different.

A big thank you goes out to the committee members who made it all possible, including Amy Anderson, Debra Pappas, Terri Bailey, Pat Philo, Ken Becker and Kathleen Richards. You can still donate to World Golf Village’s Relay for Life until June  15 for the money to count towards this year’s total. Visit http://worldgolfrelay.com/.