With the scent of kettle corn in the air, Memorial Park in Fulton was full of energy, laughter and hope Friday night during the Relay for Life.
This was the relay’s second year in the park, and a crowd filled the space during the fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. The event featured food trucks, a car show, dunking booth, silent auction and more.
“Cancer is a horrible thing,” said Steve Gibson, a fundraising team captain and director of the local Dollar General. “I think any amount of money you can put toward it can help get a cure for it. You can see how many people it can impact … day in and day out.”
Relay for Life has been a fixture in Fulton for more than a decade. Each of 12 fundraising teams had their own booth, and each team took a unique approach in raising donations.
“Our team all works together to make ideas for how we can raise money for Relay for Life,” Amy Worley, of The Callaway Bank team, said.
Children Against Cancer’s booth was run by Isabelle Borcherding, Ellie Beckmeyer, Ava Santhuff and Lauren Reicke. Inspired to get involved by their mothers, Beckmeyer and Borcherding have wanted to give back from a very young age.
“We’ve been involved since we were in kindergarten, so like since 2012,” Borcherding said. “(Our hope) is to have there be enough money to help anyone affected.”
Team member Santhuff also heads a cancer foundation for children called Ava’s Avengers.
“Ava’s Avengers is for siblings, whether it’s a brother or a sister, of a kid in the fight,” she said.
Other festivities included bingo, a clogging performance by the Flat Footin’ Follies and a children’s tractor pull. All participants at the event had the same goal in mind: to help raise awareness and funds for cancer research.
“Any place there’s a car show that can help benefit people, we’re all in,” said Jeff Martin, a participant in this year’s car show.
The relay ran all evening and was capped off with various awards and a firework show.