By Don Steen
Staff Writer ~ reporter@psci.net
CHRISNEY – Chrisney Elementary played host to this year’s Relay for Life, offering a cool refuge from the summer heat. The 2023 event marks a special occasion, as both Perry and Spencer counties have combined their efforts to hold a joined Relay for Life going forward.
Schaefer credited the leadership of Teresa Underhill of Perry County Relay for Life for helping bring both counties together to help boost participation and awareness across the area. She noted that the partnership began with a chance meeting at a craft fair, which dovetailed rather smoothly into a full-fledged joint relay. In the end, Faith Schaefer said the collaboration was a natural development for the neighboring counties. After all, student athletes compete together and many families and friends are spread out across county lines.
“Our kids know each other,” she said. “We go to church together.”
This “Two Counties, One Cause” Relay for Life launched Saturday morning, with seven Spencer County teams and one from Perry County. While volunteers from both counties are working together, they still maintain separate donor pools.
Faith Schaefer of Spencer County Relay for Life reported that Spencer County teams were just shy of their $20,000 goal as of August 26. Perry County had raised $7,000 on their way to $10,000. Donations are raised by Relay teams throughout the year, so volunteers from both counties are likely to be pushing their final results higher. Donations can be made online at the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life website.
Read the rest of the story in this weeks’ issue of the Spencer County Leader!
