Relay for Life thanks

Author: ROSS LIEB-LAPIN ’07, MEG YOUNG ’07

We would simply like to express our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the Middlebury Community for the unsurpassable enthusiasm and support with which you received the American Cancer Society's second annual Relay for Life at Middlebury College.

Last Friday, 800 participants formed 76 teams and walked for 18 hours around a muddy track, raising $175,000 for cancer research and care services!

We would like to take this time to publicly thank those who went above and beyond to help make Relay such a success. Thirty dedicated students and community members have been working since September to ensure Relay's success. We have been humbled and awed by their continual efforts and it has been a great pleasure to work with them. From the College, we would like to thank Brainerd Commons, Volunteer Services Organization, ACE, Missy Beckwith and Middlebury College Recycling, Middlebury College Security and Tammy Grant and the Center for Campus Activities and Leadership

We received outstanding support from Franklin Dean-Farrar, Russ Reilly, Gail Smith, Jim Terenzio and all of the Facilities Management staff. Local contributors include: Carrara and Sons, Inc., Dundon's Plumbing, Tom Broughton, Middlebury Lion's Club, Larry Brett's Jukebox, Greg's Meat Market, Shaw's and the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 27. Thank you to Governor Jim Douglas, Representative Bernie Sanders, Karen Strauss, Ed Knox and Kamakshi Murti for speaking at our ceremonies.

Most importantly, we would like to thank everyone who came down to the track on Friday and Saturday. Your enthusiasm was contagious and your spirit held through the night. Who would ever guess that this was only Middlebury's second Relay? In two years, this little College and town have raised a total of $255,000 for the American Cancer Society. Wow.

Lastly, we would like to thank God for holding off the rain.