By By Sherry Digmon
Advance Staff Writer
The American Cancer Society Relay for Life topped its $74,800 goal by about $10,000.
At the culmination of Friday's 12-hour event, Chairman Rusty Miller announced that $83,478 had been collected.
Throughout the United States, more than 2,400 communities will participate in Relay for Life, raising more than $127 million dollars, according to Danielle Ludlow, ACS communications and marketing.
This year, 13 teams participated in Atmore's Relay. The totals by team are as follows: Pepsi, South Alabama Vending, $21,921.07; Vanity Fair, $9,178.36; First National Bank, $9,082; The Atmore Advance, $6,240.90; Poarch Creek Indians, $5,534; Frontier, $4,120.45; United Bank, $3,900; Days Inn, $3,660; Big K, $2,717; Atmore Community Hospital, $2,381.75; Alto, $1,302.71; J-Mar, $1,227; Alabama Power, $1,100.
At about 5:30 a.m., Saturday, Miller announced the total to team members and captains, organizers, and committee members who had lasted the night. Then the group walked the final lap in silence.
Tricia Bradley, director with ACS, expected the total to top $85,000 over the weekend and into the first of the week.
Adding to the total were the luminaries dedicated in honor of or in memory of cancer victims. These candle-lit bags lined the track while Relay participants and guests walked a lap in silence at 9 p.m.
Survivors were honored at the beginning of the evening with a reception. They were also invited to take the first lap around the track.
Team members walked the track for 12 hours from 6 p.m. Friday until 6 a.m. Saturday. The Relay all-night concept is used "because cancer never sleeps."
For more information about cancer, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org. Cancer information is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.