BY STEPHEN H. COWLES/CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Playback58@gmail.com

SMITHFIELD—The Relay For Life of Isle of Wight and Surry beginning Friday isn’t just a one-day wingding. On the contrary, planning and fundraising take months.

As of Tuesday, the website shows there are 55 teams with 565 participants. So far they’ve raised approximately $117,429.44. All this is dedicated to helping the American Cancer Society battle the disease in its myriad forms.

Pam Jordan, who leads team development for the local group, said that since the fiscal year for this charity ends Aug. 31, teams are encouraged to continue fundraising.

The target amount is $210,000 this year.

“The economy’s still not being friendly and we wanted to be realistic,” Jordan said about lowering the goal from last year’s $235,000; $224,000 was ultimately raised.

While some Relays in neighboring communities can regularly call on corporate sponsors, she said, “We don’t have that,” and added, “This is just people raising money on their own.”

She mentioned there are several teams from the Windsor area, such as Breast Friends, WHS Betas for Life and Windsor Hornets, the latter two being school teams.

Other than the fact there’s a new chairman and co-chairman, Stacey Caterbone and Barbara Dillard, there’ll be no big changes to how the Relay for Isle of Wight and Surry will be run this weekend.

“We know what works. The Isle of Wight does Relay right,” Jordan said. “We’re not out to change what we do.”

She said the local group takes the money to support the American Cancer Society’s programs and services.

“They’re all effective and they (the participants) just give. We’re making the difference where we can,” Jordan said.

This year’s event begins at 7 p.m. Friday, May 31, and again will be held at Smithfield High School, 14171 Turner Drive.

Following the opening ceremony, the traditional survivors’ lap is for all cancer survivors to take the first circuit.

The Luminaria Ceremony at 9:30 p.m. is when people can remember loved ones who succumbed to cancer. The closing ceremony is at 6 a.m. Saturday, June 1.