WINDSOR – Isn’t it funny how life imitates life?

Friday, May 18 was a cool, damp day, perhaps reminding those attending the opening of the Bertie County Relay for Life of the dark clouds that shadow cancer victims and their families.

However, as it is in life, there’s always light at the end of a dark tunnel. That brightness was evident on Saturday as Relay for Life ended under brilliant, sunny skies, reminiscent of hope for a better tomorrow.

The 14th annual Bertie Relay for Life is now one for the history book, but no matter the weather or the amount of money raised in the ongoing battle against cancer, what this event has come to represent is the collective spirit of average, hard-working individuals as they face one of the most feared diseases known to man.

While the 2007 Bertie event fell short of its monutary goal, the important thing was that the citizens, churches, schools and businesses of a small, rural county remain passionate about helping to find a cure.

“It wasn’t what we wanted from a standpoint of meeting our goal, but every dollar raised is a dollar that goes towards finding a cure for cancer and helping to educate the public on how they can help themselves by learning the warning signs and getting medical treatment as quickly as possible,” Bobbi Parker, one of the event’s organizers, said.

Parker reported, as of Monday, the event had raised $140,000.

“Sure, we would have loved to have generated more money, but the main message we stress at Relay for Life is early diagnosis and treatment is half the battle when it comes to beating cancer,” Parker said.

While this year’s fundraising mark may have been missed, it should be noted that Bertie County Relay for Life has generated in excess of $1.5 million for the American Cancer Society during its 14-year run.

As is tradition, awards are given out during Saturday’s closing ceremony. The following is a listing of those awards for 2007:

Best Tent Decoration

(1st) Colerain Elementary School

(2nd) Ross Baptist Church

(3rd) Bertie High Beta Club/AVID

Best Theme

(1st) Ross Baptist Church….Scanning the Universe For A Cure

(2nd) Colerain Elementary…Don’t Clown Around; Get Tested

(3rd) Kathy’s Team…Shuffling For A Cure

Best T-Shirt

(1st) Ross Baptist Church…Scanning the Universe For A Cure

(2nd) Indian Woods Baptist Church…Freezing Out Cancer

(3rd) (Tie) n Bertie Health Department…Pirates of the Cashie; and Church of God For All People…Gathering Hearts For A Cure

Willie G. Bazemore Pack The Track Award (most survivors recruited by a team): Bertie Health Department – 43

Beth Cayton Light Up The Night Award (most luminaries sold by a team): Bertie Board of Education sold over $3,000.

Best Team Spirit: Colin White with Bertie Health Department.

Most Money Raised by an Individual: JoAnn Jordan

Most Money Raised By A Team

(1st)

Bertie Board of Education…$16,710.41

(2nd) Bertie Health Department…$15,027.00

(3rd)

Ross Baptist Church…$11,521.00

Kids Walk

Little Miss Relay: Rosanna Dail of Windsor – $65

Little Mr. Relay: Tanner Matthews of Conway – $1,406