IF YOU GOWhat: Karaoke for LifeWhen: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. SaturdayWhere: Rhea County Welcome CenterWhy: Fundraiser for the American Cancer SocietyAdmission: $4 at the door, $2 for children 6-10 $2, under 6 freeInformation: Call Kyle at 423-443-8672 or Brenda at 443-8673 or visit www.cancer.org/relay.
By Kimberly McMillian
Correspondent
DAYTON, Tenn. — “Cancer never sleeps,” said Kyle Rice, project manager of the Afterhours Committee for Rhea County’s American Cancer Society Relay for Life fundraiser.
His mother’s diagnosis of colon cancer 13 years ago got him into Relay for Life, said Mr. Rice, whose fundraising team will sponsor Karaoke for Life on Saturday at the Rhea County Welcome Center.
His wife, Brenda, participates in memory of her father, Steven Crowe, who died of cancer in 2004.
“Every year the participants have a reason to relay,” Mrs. Rice said.
The traditional Relay for Life is a walkathon to raise money for cancer research. Rhea County does things differently.
Ten teams come up with their own fundraisers that take place at different times.
For example, relay representative Karen Gann said, the Rhea Medical Center team hosts monthly breakfasts and silent basket auctions in-house. The La-Z-Boy Tennessee team hosts fundraisers within the company, and the Bosom Buddies team offers cancer support and hosts survivor activities at the Relay for Life walking event in August.
The Rices have been hosting Karaoke for Life since 2003. This year’s goal is $5,000.
“If it’s a fun event and people enjoy it, then maybe they’ll want to start their own team,” Mr. Rice said.
The karaoke event will offer prizes worth $2,500, including an autographed hat and T-shirt from country singer Gretchen Wilson and an autographed script from the TV show “Modern Family” along with tickets to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg and Wilderness at the Smokies Waterpark in Sevierville. Other prizes include tickets and discounts for the Rush fitness center, the Creative Discovery Museum, the Southern Belle riverboat and area restaurants.
“I just had fun, and I like singing,” said last year’s Best Youth winner Joshua Mason, 10.
Kimberly McMillian is based in Rhea County. Contact her at kdj424@bellsouth.net.
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