Local Relay for Life Team honored for fundraising efforts
For the past 12 years, Mountain Brook High School students have organized and led an increasingly successful Relay for Life fundraising event on behalf of the American Cancer Society. The 2011 event, one of their most successful, was recently recognized at the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life Mid-South Summit.
As the sixth largest youth-led Relay for Life organization in the country, Mountain Brook’s program was awarded first place for per capita funds raised in the entire United States. At the 2011 Relay for Life event held at Mountain Brook High School’s football stadium, more than 100 teams comprised of close to 1,000 team members from all over the community surpassed their goal of $138,000 to raise more than $160,000.
Senior Mary Katherine Abele is this year’s Director of MBHS’s Relay. This is Abele’s third year to be involved in the program, and at the Mid South Summit she gave a talk about how youth relay organizations can make a difference for the American Cancer Society.
Teams are forming now for the 2012 event scheduled for April 20. The goal this year is to get 140 teams to participate and to raise $170,000
“We supervise the planning and activities, but it is truly the students who do it all, from forming the teams to obtaining sponsorships to executing the fundraising events,” said Faculty Advisor Katrina McGuire. “The level of participation and commitment that we see from the students is remarkable.”
The event is open to the entire community and there are many events and activities for the entire family to enjoy. But to really move the event to the next level, Abele would like to see the entire community get involved.
“Anyone can form a team,” she said. “Local businesses, clubs, organizations, elementary schools are all great sources for teams.”
To register your team online, visit www.relayforlife.org/mountainbrook. If you have questions or need more information, call Mary Frances Colley at 930-8893 or email mary.frances.colley@cancer.org.