05.28.03

By LISA WARREN
Health Editor
From holding carnivals to selling cookbooks, many local American Cancer Society Relay for Life teams have been busying coming up with creative ways to raise money.
The Greene County Relay for Life is an annual fund-raising event to benefit the American Cancer Society. This year's local event will be held on June 20-21 at the Greeneville Middle School Track.
Currently there are 35 teams that are signed up to participate in this year's Relay for Life. The goal for this year's fund-raiser is $100,000.
One of the most unique fund-raising ideas from the local teams this year has been from the 12 Relay for Life teams of Laughlin Memorial Hospital. Several individuals and departments at the hospital have donated themed baskets filled with a variety of items from restaurant certificates, cleaning supplies, gardening items and much more. Called the "Baskets of Hope," some examples include: an all-American picnic basket filled with all of the goodies needed to make your picnic a success; a fishing basket load with all of the necessary items to "catch the big one;" a tribute to America basket with loads of red, white and blue; a car care basket, and a kids' basket, just to name a few. There are even baskets that can treat your to a night on the town at one of several restaurants in Greeneville; ones to pamper yourself, and even ones tempt your taste buds with sweet goodies.
The Laughlin Relay teams are selling tickets on individual baskets for $1 each (or 6 tickets for $5.) To check out all of the baskets, visit Laughlin's fifth floor, where they are currently all on display. To purchase a ticket, contact Pam Chesser in the hospital's radiation/oncology department at 787-5043.
The Laughlin Relay teams will also be having a silent auction at the hospital from May 27 to June 9 on a variety of other items that are also on display on the hospital's fifth floor.

Here is a list of some other fund-raising efforts by other Relay teams:

* HUF North America's Relay team will have a golf tournament at River Trace on June 7, beginning at 2 p.m. Registration will start at noon.

* Top Dog, the downtown hot dog stand, will be donating 20 percent of its proceeds from its sales on June 11 and 18.

* A fund-raising breakfast will be held following the Relay for Life on June 21, beginning at 6 a.m. by the Sprint team. Cost is $5. The team is also selling wrapping paper for $1 per roll and have tickets available for sell on a water purifier for $1 each.

* Takoma Adventist Hospital's Relay team will be hosting a patriotic concert on a date yet to be announced, following the Relay for Life. The proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society.

* Wal-Mart's Relay team will be selling selling luminaries each week in front of Wal-Mart. Other teams are also accepting donations for luminaries as well. Persons may either honor a cancer survivor or memorialize a cancer victim with a luminaria for $5. A special luminaria-lighting ceremony will be held at dusk the night of the Relay.

* Wendy's Relay team is selling Sun Bursts at all Wendy's Greeneville locations.

* Winter & Company and Andrew Johnson Bank have teamed up to host the Miss and Mister Rose Princess and Prince Pageant on June 7 at Roby Fitzgerald Adult Center. The contest is open to infants and youth, ages newborn through 21 years. Entry forms are available at the Andrew Johnson Bank's main branch. For more information, contact Cherlyn Tarleton at 783-1027.

* A fund-raiser will be held at Bellacino's on June 7 from 6-10 p.m. by the Answered Prayers Relay team, which is headed by cancer survivor Lisa White. During this event, Bellacino's will donate 20 percent of the profits and Relay team members will work for tips.

* In addition to already hosting a Kids' Carnival last month, the Relay team with East Tennessee Hematology/Oncology is also selling cookbooks for $10 at the office. For more information, call 787-7080.

* The "Glimpses of Grace" Relay team is currently selling homemade Italian creme cakes for $40. For more information, call 639-3494. The team will also host a scrap-booking party on June 7, beginning at 9 a.m., at Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

* Greene County Bank's Relay team will hold a car wash on Saturday, May 31, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Big Lots parking lot.

* A hamburger lunch will be held by the team from Greene Valley Developmental Center on June 4, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Greene Valley.

* The Greeneville Junior Woman's Club team is selling tickets for a $500 shopping spree at Food City for $1 each. For more information, call Kathy Knight at 638-6094.

* Tickets are available for $1 each from all of the Relay teams for a $500 trip for two with Greene Coach Tours.

* Relay for Life teams will also be participating in a widespread roadblock at various intersections throughout town on Saturday, June 14.