CLARKTON — What started with a request from a sister with cancer has lead Mary Williams down a path to event organizing for Relay for Life.

“I’ve been doing Relay for Life since 1998,” she said, adding that this year is her first year as event lead for the county. “I think I have missed only one year in all of that time. I started because I lost a sister to breast cancer. Before she passed away she asked me if I would start a team.

Relay for Life is hosting it’s Valentine Gala Cancer Benefit on Feb. 16 and organizers are saying it’s not an event to miss. This is the fifth year.

“We are going to have a fashion show dinner,” said organizer Mary Williams. “We will also have a speaker. And we will be recognizing our survivors. “

“We aren’t sure what the weather is going to do, or what it was going to be like so we decided to have it early so people wouldn’t be out in the dark,” said Williams in a phone interview Thursday. The Clarkton Entertainment Center will be hosting the event which starts at 4 p.m..

“Our objective is of course to bring about awareness to other cancers and a second objective is of course celebrate those that are still with us,” she said.

The speaker this year Maria Thurman and she will be speaking on behalf of her dad.

“We lost him to a rare type of cancer,” she explained. “She wanted to share that story.”

“The biggest highlight will be bringing about awareness of the different types of cancers that there are out there,” she said. “Those that people may not be familiar with.”

Their goal this year is $130,000.

The Clarkton Entertainment Center is located at 10289 College St., Clarkton. The donation is $25 or $30 at the door for the Valentines Gala which is a casual attire event.

The Relay for Life will be held April 27, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Elizabethtown Middle School.

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Gala on Saturday in Clarkton benefits Relay for Life

Emily M. Williams

Bladen Journal

IF YOU GO …

Thursday: Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery, 7-10 p.m., John and Greg Hodges live music

Through Thursday: Elizabethtown Massage R&R, specials

Saturday: Valentine Gala Cancer Benefit, Clarkton Entertainment Center, 10289 College St. in Clarkton

Emily M. Williams can be reached at 910-247-9133 or ewilliams@bladenjournal.com.