Noreen Hyslop photo John Brehmer, who has battled cancer for nearly three decades and has served as a constant inspiration for the manner in which he has faced the challenges that cancer has presented to him and the Brehmer family, shares a memory with longtime friend and fellow-cancer survivor, Glen Tucker, during Friday night's Relay for Life activities. [Click to enlarge]

"It was an extraordinary night," said event chairperson, Jennifer Hartline. "Our sincere thanks to all of the people from Stoddard County who made this year's event the best ever."

The Relay event is sponsored by the American Cancer Society, which is the nation's leading nonprofit organization fighting cancer and the only community-based volunteer cancer organization. Funds raised through Relay events are allocated to offer hope, progress, and answers to individuals in Stoddard County and in communities across the country.

Friday night's event was both an inspirational and emotional evening. Cancer survivors from across the county, donned in their purple issued T-shirts that designate them as honored guests of the event, took to the track for the initial Survivor's Lap at around 6:15. While some friends, family members and caregivers accompanied the survivors on their victory lap, others circled the oval track at West City Park and cheered the walkers for every step of both their physical and emotional journey in battling and beating a cancer diagnosis.

Families and neighbors and the survivors themselves, many with wet towels draped around their necks, faced sweltering heat and humidity to honor those who have beaten the odds in fighting cancer, and those as well whose lives have been lost to the disease.

Efforts throughout the county in recent months have exceeded any previous efforts. Awarded as the top fundraisers in the Multiple Team and Corporate categories were the Bernie teachers and students, whose combined efforts raised $11,381 for the 2008 Relay.

Photo by Noreen hyslop Dexter Fire Chief Al Banken accompanied his wife and cancer survivor, Betty, around the oval track at West City Park during the Survivor's Lap. [Click to enlarge]

Within the city of Bernie once again, the honors for the most money raised by a single team went to the Bernie Christian Church. The church team collected a total of $8785.

In the Corporate field, Bloomfield's Golden Living Center was noted for having raised $7900.

Individual fundraising honors went to Karen Pippins, who single-handedly raised $1045, Michele Carmode, who brought in $1723 and Ester Wheeler, who turned in $1360.

Photo by Noreen Hyslop Dexter's own Hero of Hope for the American Cancer Society, Ester Wheeler, was accompanied on the track Friday night by her husband, Mike. Wheeler represents a substantial area of the country as a designated Hero of Hope, speaking to youth groups about the dangers of smoking. She is a survivor of oral cancer. [Click to enlarge]

"We just cannot thank this community enough," Hartline stressed, "including of course all of our Corporate Sponsors who make this event happen, but also the works of each and every team and their unique methods of raising funds to help find a cure for this disease that has touched so many lives around us."

Photo by Noreen Hyslop As she sleeps, three-year-old Gabrielle Faith Dunnivan, gets a butterfly painted on her cheek by Jolene Green of the Crowley Ridge Relay team Friday night. [Click to enlarge]