2013 Relay for Life a Great Success

The 2013 Relay for Life of Lamar took place on June 1st and 2nd at Merrill Brush Field at Savage Stadium. The Relay raised $36,085.86 by the close of Relay on June 2nd. 11 Relayers made Grand Club this year. A Grand Club Member is a person who raises $1,000 or more. Every Relayer is required to raise $100, but these people went above and beyond that. Grand Club Members include; Sheila Forbes, Zack Forbes, survivor Ashtyn Forbes, Zane Forbes, Zeke Forbes, Carol Musick, Carla Forrest, Sherri Kerr, Christina Stegman, Mary Manly and Carlos Valdez. The top individuals were; Carla Forrest who raised $1,827.55, Carlos Valdez who raised $1,100 and third place was tied with $1,000 each; Sheila Forbes, Carol Musick, Sherri Kerr, Christina Stegman, Mary Manly, Zane Forbes, Zeke Forbes, Zack Forbes and survivor Ashtyn Forbes.

24 teams registered for the 2013 Relay for Life. Weisbrod Witches, team captain Jodi Stolzenberger, from Eads took home the Most Spirited Award and Rookie Team of 2013 went to The Ports to Plains Crew, team captain and survivor Betty Spurgeon. Dalton’s Fire of Hope, team captain Sherri Kerr, took home the Best Campsite Award. The Ports to Plains Crew, team captain Betty Spurgeon, took home the 2nd Place Campsite Award and Hunting for a Cure, team captains Mary Manly and Christina Stegman, took home the 3rd Place Campsite Award.

The following teams signed up for the 2013 Relay for Life of Lamar;

1. Pink for Purple, Carol Musick
2. Lopes for a Cure, Janet Gottschalk
3. The Cook Family, Debby Cook
4. Rosie’s Angels, Berna Griego
5. Hunting for a Cure, Mary Manly
6. Dalton’s Fire of Hope, Sherri Kerr
7. Weisbrod Witches, Jodi Stolzenberger
8. Prowers Medical Center, Connie Hill
9. Pink 4 Purple 2, Kim Burkhart
10. The “M” Factor 1, Diane Moffett
11. Southeast Colo Hospital, Carla Forrest
12. The “M” Factor 2, Donna Meltabarger
13. Forever Young, Ashley Brookshire
14. Wal-Mart, Shirley Fagan
15. Estep/VanCampen Families, Tanya Smith
16. Vi-Motivated, Eva Esquibel
17. Ports to Plains, Betty Spurgeon
18. Operation Grey, Sheila Forbes
19. BethHaven’s Angels, Mary Herrera
20. Team SDS, Nikki Calvillo
21. Coach Tim’s Team, Maggie Pacino
22. Hunting for a Cure 2, Crissy Stegman
23. Lamar FFA, Cliff Marts
24. Wiley Student Council, Bekka Bennett

The top single teams for 2013 were; Prowers Medical Center who raised $5,000, Weisbrod Witches who raised $4,178.50 and Lamar Community College who raised $1,913. The top multiple teams were; Pink 4 Purple who raised $3,265 and Hunting for a Cure who raised $3,218.

This year 2 local elementary schools took place in Mini Relays. Mini Relays are held by schools to help raise money for the Relay for Life in their area. Eads Elementary who raised $535 and Plainsview Elementary who raised $411 each held a Mini Relay during the school year.

372 Luminaria bags lined the track the night of Relay. They displayed name of those we have lost and those who continue their fight. Teams and individuals work to sell the bags during the Relay season. The money raised from the bags count towards the team’s and individual’s totals. This year three ladies worked very hard to be the top in Luminaria sells’ Betty Spurgeon who sold 24, Sheila Forbes who sold 22 and Linda Freiberger who sold 19.

The 3rd Annual Mr. Relay contest took place in the early evening hours during Relay. Seven gentlemen participated in the competition. The Mr. Relay contest is a highlight during Relay for Life. Men and boys dress in their best dresses and go around collecting money in their bags. At midnight the crowning of the winners took place. Mr. Relay 19 and older went to Steve Brown from team Pink 4 Purple, runner up went to Dave Armstrong from team Rosie’s Angels and third place went to Matt Burkhart with team Pink 4 Purple 2. Mr. Relay 18 and under went to the team of Damien Hernandez and Chase Stolzenberger from team Weisbrod Witches. A total of $906.00 was raised during the Mr. Relay contest.

Relay for Life of Lamar also has an award called “I walked the Most at Relay”. This award is given to an individual who can prove they walked the most by purchasing track beads. The individual starts off by purchasing a necklace and each time the individual walks a lap they add a bead to their necklace. This is the 2nd year for this award and it went to Euince Weber from Weisbrod Witches.

The 2013 Relay for Life of Lamar would not have been possible without our sponsors. We would like to thank each one of them; Lamar Elk’s Lodge #1319, Lamar School District- Staffon Warn and Crew, Lamar United Methodist Church, City of Lamar- Community Building and Streets and Sanitation Crew, Andrea Duffy Photography, NAPA Auto Parts, Burger King, Signs and Designs, Tempel Grain, Cliff’s Auto Plus, Shorty’s Café, KLMR, KVAY, Lamar Ledger, The Prowers Journal, Bent County Democrat, Plainsman Herald, Walmart, Lamar Thriftway, Syracuse Journal, LamarTV, A1 Rental, My Wholesale, Mac Entertainment, Ports to Plains and Mike Duffy. We would like to say a special thanks to the Boys Scouts Pack 223 for serving the Survivor Dinner and the Flag Retirement Ceremony. The Lamar VFW Color Guard for participating in the opening ceremony, Jessie Tecklenburg for the signing of the National Anthem and Lamar Fire Chief and Cancer Survivor Marshall Cook for the invocation. Thanks to Chris Duffy, Nathan Palmer, Kirk Stegman and Jeremy Burkhart for assisting the Committee.