On the night of May 2nd-3rd the Relay for life was held at Berry Middle school in Mesquite. The American
Cancer Society funding event was a big success.
I arrived at the berry stadium just before 7:00 PM (6:57pm) as the opening ceremony was opening. The emcee
Karol Dyress was onstage speaking.
At 7:00 the color guard presented the Flag, and a prayer was given.
Mesquite Relay for Life Chair Shirley Roberts then spoke. She Spoke about how such a great night it would be,
and speaking about what Relay is all about.
how all here would Celebrate. remember and fight back against Cancer.
As she spoke mayor John Monaco waiting alongside of the stage for his turn to speak next.
Roberts address the audience to challenge themselves that night to share to share their stories, make new
friends, strength that you need.
And that you are not alone in this fight against cancer.
Roberts said that every Relay for Life is a success. It is a success because they are here. Everyone is here.
She thanked the audience.
Allen vaught was to be the next speaker but he could not make it.
So Shirley Roberts went ahead and introduced Mayor John Monaco. She said of him that he had certainly been
a supporter and that he is one of the sponsors for tonight.
Once Monaco was on stage he thanked Shirley and the Audience. he said that Relay was a very worthy cause
and wanted to share some personal words from his heart to everyone there,
He said that the was honored to be there with everyone ( as he spoke Mesquite media director Greg Sowell
took pictures of him) 7:12pm
Mayor John Monaco spoke about his mother and her cancer fight and his cancer scare when he thought that
he may have developed lung cancer. ( Monaco is reading what he is talking about) Monaco called for a
renewal of the fight against Cancer with each lap taken during the Relay tonight. 7:15pm to make this your
stand, to fight Back. Monaco ends his remarks. And leaves the stage.
7:16pm Shirley Roberts comes back to the stage. And asks the crowd if they are ready to start the first Lap?
But before that. George Felkner was introduced and came to the stage. he spoke, first Thanking everyone for
being here , and for all the money that was raised.
George went on to tell the audience his story about how he found out he had come down with Cancer. With
cracks in his voice and some choking-up he recalled the chemo, radiation, and Bone marrow transplant.
He spoke about how every 10 minutes that someone in the United States will die from Cancer.
George also ask everyone to be on a Donor list. 7:22pm
After George spoke Shirley Roberts spoke one more. She talked about a little boy named Andrew who had a
Brain tumor.
7:23pm Karol Dyress Asks survivors to please go to the track
7:24pm the Survivors line up on the track
The sun is setting and it is very bright as the participates get ready to start the first lap of the Relay.
Music begins to play. The song Celebration by Kool and the Gang.
1...2...3 ! People begin walking, luminaries are lined all around the track.
7:27pm The High school band starts to play, people are clapping and applauding as the first lap begins.
7:32pm Karol calls for all committee members to come to the stage, and for caregivers to go to the white tent
for Dinner.
7:36pm the song "We are family" by Sister Sledge begins to play as all the committee members are onstage.
Shirley Roberts tells the committee that she loves them 7:39pm
7:40pm Now is the time to Ask the teams to start their laps, - please make sure you bring your Relay baton.
7:41pm Shirley Roberts announces that their is a $25.00 gift at Booth 24 to be collected.
Whole teams are to start walking, remember to go by the luminaries booth, you still have 15 minutes left to
purchase one.
Dinner is by Applebee's
7:49pm In the middle of the field their are children playing with a ball.
Up on the bleachers luminaries are being placed. 7:50pm
7:58pm I take a picture of Former Mesquite Mayor George Venner
and his wife Pat as they walk around the track.
8:00pm Many of the booths are selling food.. I stop by one and purchase some Bananas
Visited the Grit-R-Dunn Booth 8:02pm
8:08pm The music playing, the Song "Soul Man" by Lou Reed
Glow sticks are being placed in the luminaries bags
8:10pm Last Call for Luminaries!
Julie Greer is called to the stage 8:12pm
8:17pm Some announcements are made.
8:18pm Some guys are tossing a football around mid-field
Sharon cook and her daughter are walking the track. I take a picture
of them.
8:25pm I I speak to my friend Van, he is a survivor of prostate Cancer. He didn't know about his family history
with the disease. until he came down with it and was told about it by a relative. He was quite surprised when he
did find out that he had an Uncle that died from Prostate cancer. And he thought about all the years that when
he went to see a Dr. and filled out the questionnaire that he did not have a family history with the disease. We
spoke about how its important to know this sort of thing before the diagnoses.
8:32pm after speaking with Van I spoke to Julie Greer briefly
8:46pm Stopped by another booth -- couldn't resist getting some Candy.
8:47pm I see Pastor Dan Aleman is walking the track.
8:55pm Time for some dinner.
8:46 Bought some candy.
8:47 Aleman walking
8:55 Still lots of people on the track , bought a pizza (pizza Inn)
I also saw Ted Barron walking on the track.
8:58 Lights were turned off and you could see the blue glowsticks.
9:00 A speaker has come to the stage and there was clapping
9:04 Door prizes began and people were ask to look at the number on their wrist band.
9:09 People were ask to stop walking for the ceremony lighting of the luminaries
9:13 Donna Jones is on stage
told everyone Sunrise Rotary Club donated all the glowsticks
9:14 Donna then thanked everyone who helped put out all the luminaries, and explains what they represent
Fighting back against Cancer. And then ask everyone to turn and look at the stadium so they could see all the
lights.
The Mesquite Relay has been astronomical to the American Cancer Society.
9:17 The reading of the names now begins
Someone in the parking lot had turned on their lights as they were leaving , and they were trying to get
them to turn them off,
9:18 The car left the parking lot
9:21 The names are read , it was very quiet.
9:26 Darren Watkins walked up to me as the names were being read and we spoke briefly
9:28 Poem "You still Have Hope" was read.9:31 Names of survivors were scrolled on the screen.
I noticed Karen Hunt's name was read and heard George Felkner's name as well
9:34 Mrs Nochese spoke to me ask if a name was read (it was read), and told me that Greg would be there later
at booth #17 white tent and she would be there all night
9:38 Shirley Roberts name was read as one of the names listed as survivors as well as her husbands.
Every so often you could hear cheering for different names
9:38 finished reading survivors names
9:39 Pre registered names now read , there was cheering for some.
Edie's name was read, and George Felkner and Karen Hunt's names were read again as well
9:42 Shirley Roberts name was read again and George Venner's name was also read
9:43 End of the third reading of names , then there was a big cheer for all of the survivors.
9:44 there was a personal thanks to Valerie Little for putting together the scroll of the names and the pictures.
Names began scrolling on the screen.
Among pictures shown I noticed a picture I had taken of George Venner and his wife Pat at pancake breakfast.
Shirley Roberts picture was the last one shown.
9:48 Shirley Roberts was called to the stage.
9:50 Shirley Roberts started calling people to the stage.
(Is Karen Hunt here?)
9:51 Shirley Roberts announced $80,700 raised
Shirley Roberts ask Oscar to please turn on the lights.
9:55 John Heiman arrives dressed all in white with a white "Be Nice" tshirt
9:56 Green shirts are allowed onto the track
9:56 Cindy Heiman wearing a white "be Nice" tshirt on as well
9:56 Police video running on screen with music by "The Who" playing
9:58 I saw Mike Anderson was here and was talking to John Heimann
10:00 Met Lori Lloyd and spoke to her briefly.
10:03 Lost power on stage
10:04 Met Lori's daughter , from Rodeo City Music Hall, who will be singing on stage. She sang at the KMB trash
bash.
The power came back on to the stage.
10:10 I stopped and spoke to Anderson and his wife, they are impressed with everything,
This is the first Relay for Life they had attended(?)
10:10 Lloyd on the stage
10:13 More door prizes are given.
10:13 I walked up to the press box.
10:14 Wireless Highspeed Internet
10:18 Elvis on the stage singing "burning Love" (listened from the box)
10:23 Elvis continues singing "ghetto in the ghetto"
10:25 "jail house rock"
10:27 Walking back down onto the track, still alot of people here.
10:28 "Only Fools Rush In"
10:30 I saw greg Nochese and Evelyn Williams on the track , he said he would be leaving soon because the kids
are starting to fall asleep.
10:31 "impossible Dream" playing
10:34 Bathroom Break
10:39 Elvis still on stage
10:41 Met Monica, a crossing guard for Tisinger Elementary.
10:50 Walking the track
10:51 "the Macaraina" playing (very funny)
10:53 Called for all the kids that want to do the hula hoop contest.
10:56 I see Dan Aleman in jail , I bailed him out for $1
10:58 Rachel Lopez and crew arrive, she advised they would probably be here til 2am.
11:00 Spoke to Jean Wisenbaker , she said she is staying til midnight.
11:03 The one timers come to the stage, and played "bad Moon Rising"
11:08 They then played some Texas blues , "All Right Now".
11:10 I spoke to Cindy Heimann
11:20 More door prizes given
11:22 I also see Mark Hindman was here.
11:26 After break One timers are back on stage playing "How Far is Heaven"
11:32 "Wise Man has the Power" by Doobie Brothers
11:35 Nochese playing catch football (pix)
11:40 "Desperado" performed by the One Timers
11:48 One Timers played their last song
11:53 Trey Williams comes to the stage
11:57 Announced Bingo at the Survivors tent at midnight
12:03 Spoke to Rachel Lopez briefly while walking the track.
12:22 More Door prizes given
12:26 Nochese arrested and put in jail
12:36 walked the track
12:39 Bingo being played in the survivor tent. saw Shirley Roberts and her husband playing.
12:39 Nochese has left to go home
12:42 Still giving out door prizes
12:45 Akin Young sings "gone Country"
12:47 Free cheese crackers
12:50 Announcement made about doing fundraisers
12:55 Spoke to Ms Grimland about what will happen to the luminaries bags, she told me the sand was donated
by sonic.
1:01 Luminaries on the bleachers are being taken down
Soccer game in the middle of the field
Aiken Young singing "achey breaky heart"
Bingo still going on
1:04 Lacey turner now on stage singing "Any Man of Mine"
1:11 football now being played on the other end of the field while soccer is on the opposite side still being
played
1:13 Shirley Roberts is walking around the field talking to people with her husband.
1:15 announcement Everyone is called to come up towards the stage this is a very important part of the relay
1:16 More door prizes
Celebrate Remember to Fight Back
1:23 Fight Back Ceremony.
" At this time we relay to celebrate cancer survivors. Relay gives us a place to rejoice."
"we relay to find comfort". " We are here together to fight back , we must fight back."
" The American Cancer Societies effort to fight back against Cancer
Celebration on the Hill . Ambassadors
1:27 Law Fraidy Autry speaking "We've all been touched by Cancer"
since 1991 she has been a cancer survivor instead of a cancer victim
10 years later cancer struck her again. and 5 years later it struck a third time.
"I am fighting back"
" I haven't missed a day of work this time, I am active in the race for the cure"
"I am not going to die from Cancer. My Husband came down with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, he is to sick
to be here." Thank You
1:31 All called upon to pledge to save one life. it may be your own.
1-800-acs-2345
"If you are ready to make a commitment come forward and take a flag"
alot of people took flags and then please come take and fill out a pledge card.
1:35 We will defeat this disease
1:36 If you want to keep your luminaria bag please pick them up at this time
then later we will be picking up the rest
1:39 Intro to song by Queen "we will Rock you" is played
1:39 Singing started back up
Brandy Ammons is still here
Police have arrested another person
1:43 I'm getting kind of tired
1:47 Megan Shipman called to the stage
singing "Why haven't I heard from You"
1:53 Cynthia Herrin on stage singing "Happiest Girl In the USA"
Movie Happy Feet is Next
1:58 Its cold
2:00 Got a DP
"wake up Sergio Wake Up" Rachel Lopez
Another singer has taken the stage
2:05 will replay the names slideshow again then will show Happy Feet
2:09 more door prizes
the wind is picking up
2:12 Rachel Lopez is packing up and going home
2:14 I am up in the box, its much warmer
2:15 they are deflating the screen because of the wind
2:18 the police are on the track driving the T3 motion.
What about the movie?
2:21 The screen is still down
2:24 No one is really on the field
2:25 The wind is still blowing good
2:28 The lights are back on
2:30 Tents are starting to take a beating , one tent has been taken down, 2 more coming down
Person came in to the box to turn in money
T3 motion is back on the track
2:39 wind is still kickin , screen is still down , I'm still up in the box
2:41 helicopter flew overhead nearby
T3 motion still on the track
2:43 I guess we're not going to have the movie
2:44 Someone else turned in money
2:44 Shannon Texted Me
2:45 the wind is picking up again
2:55 I'm still up in the press box
2:59 Police dropped off money $235.00
3:00 another tent came down
3:12 Edie is 2 waying Shirley Roberts. Is Shirley Roberts out there?
3:14 Kids are dancing to disco
3:15 Another tent has come down
3:29 They are up to something, Kids are out on the field.
Kids playing wheel barrel races
3:33 People waving to us in the press box
3:35 More money brought to the box
3:37 Money again brought to the box
3:39 wind is still blowing hard
3:40 More music playing "Sweet Home Alabama"
3:42 Oscar Lowered and turned off the mid field lights
3:49 a tent flipped over
3:50 Another 2 tents taken down
3:51 Oscar taking apart the midfield lights
3:53 Hear a train in the distance
3:54 another tent taken down
3:57 One more tent comes down
3:58 $84,500
3:59 Very windy , Loud
4:00 Someone has come to turn in money
4:01 Trash cans are being blown over
4:02 another tent has come down
4:04 hear another train passing in the distance
4:06 Wind still not letting up
4:14 Oscar collecting trash
4:16 People waving at us here in the box
"You need earmuffs out there"?
4:18 More money from a team came up to the box .
Edie "Don't be taking notes on what we're saying in here" (jokingly)
4:20 People on the truck looking up in the box
4:21More music "freak out"
4:25 Another tent is coming down
4:26 Big gust of wind
4:28 A tent flipped over
4:32 more music "Play that funky Music White Boy"
4:44 People are playing with bubbles
4:45 The wind is blowing everything around
trash, papers, plastic bags
4:48 Another tent is taken down
4:51 Where is Shirley Roberts? I haven't seen her in a long time?
She is walking around in a red blanket
4:52 Shirley Roberts on the radio "Where are you ?"
she is in the tent
4:53 Another tent is coming down
4:53 There are about 8 tents left up.
4:54 Total $84,847
4:55 Time to make announcement to end
4:55 I called Shannon
4:57 Another tent has come down
5:01 Shirley Roberts makes the last announcement
5:05 One more tent came down
5:05 Edie shuts down the laptop up here in the box.
5:12 One more tent comes down
Another tent taken down
5:16 Edie " OHHH my legs hurt so bad"
5:18 Edie taking another load back to the car, almost finished
she will take tent then come back for that stuff
McDonald's
The End
SERGIO GARCIA NOTES: 2008 Mesquite Relay for Life the Night of May 2-3rd @ Berry School