By Ed Simmons, Jr.
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With not a rain cloud in sight, by 6 p.m. Friday at Caroline High School where the Relay for Life was being held, the parking lot was near-full as Chamber of Commerce members in day-glo vests directed drivers to their spots.

Down on the football field, a tent city had sprung up in colors blue, green, red, black and white where the 40 Relay fund-raising teams were gathering with lawn chairs, remembrances and food.

Around the track were white paper bags filled partly with sand, then a candle and a name written on the outside – a life that cancer had claimed to be remembered when the candles were lit for the "Luminaria" when darkness fell.

A big crowd milled, cheerful, relaxed, chatty. Many wore purple tee-shirts indicating they were cancer survivors. Some also wore sashes saying "Survivor" while others wore sashes with the word "Caregiver."

At the Dunking Booth, a stalwart Sheriff Tony Lippa took plunge after plunge as kids heaved tennis balls at the plunger – two balls for a dollar, all to benefit the Relay.

The Children's Activity Tent had long been open, with plastic hats to paint and decorate for The Crazy Hat Contest. The kids' tent, courtesy of Linda and Jeff Sili, and a first for this year's Relay, would be open all night to keep the youngsters amused with activities and games.

At 7 p.m. came the Survivors' Lap – a triumphal procession – when 120 wearing purple paraded around the track to show that cancer is no longer a death sentence and that the fight is being won against cancer.

Then came the Opening Ceremony with speakers Brady Grim, Delegate Bobby Orrock and Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Floyd Thomas.

Grim spoke words of endurance, encouragement and hope. Orrock told of how God got him through his ordeal with cancer. And Thomas spoke of running two races last fall – one for the board of supervisors and the other against his cancer. "I prayed to win the cancer race!" said Thomas. "God saved me!"

A full night was ahead. The Teddy Bear Lap took 225 teddy bears around the track enroute to a new home at MCV Children's Center for young cancer patients. Supervisor Bobby Popowicz and Commonwealth's Attorney Tony Spencer, volunteering to entertain, stepped up on stage and regaled the crowd. (See "Luminaria.")

Later would come singers Wick Coleman and Frankie Chenault as The Blues Brothers, then Frankie as a wondrous "Elvis." There was line dancing, a truck-load of donated pizzas, Chrissie Mack leading "Power Up for Life," and team awards by Betty Rae Johnson who shaved her head for a $1,000 donation to fight cancer.

Finally, well before dawn, would come the hearty voices of the Rooster Crowing.

Then would come the big moment – the Fight Back Ceremony and the Walk of Hope Lap.

By Monday morning, over $97,000 in contributions to fight cancer had been raised, with more on the way.

Once again, the Relay for Life – a miracle of Caroline County initiative, imagination, hard work, endurance, sacrifice, generosity and good will – had succeeded.