MURFREESBORO – Who says #13 is unlucky?

As plans are continually developing for the 2013 Hertford-Gates Relay for Life – which, by the way, will mark the 13^th year of this event – one bit of big news has surfaced. Of the 43 teams participating, one will be a special guest as

The American Cancer Society’s South Atlantic Division will send their team to this annual event in Murfreesboro, set for April 26-27 on the campus of Chowan University.

“We are very honored to have Herford/Gates Relay chosen by the South Atlantic team.  We are looking forward to meeting them and welcoming them into our Relay family,” said Angie Plaunty, co-chair of the 2013 Hertford-Gates Relay for Life.

Last year marked the first time that South Atlantic Division officials decided to choose one Relay for Life event to send a team of participants. That team went to an event in West Virginia where they experienced so much fun that the group suggested to Division officials to make this an annual tradition.

The American Cancer Society’s staff partners were asked to write a nomination for one of their many events.  Relay For Life of Hertford-Gates was nominated and went before a panel of judges to be judged strictly on the nomination letter; no event names were included to make sure each event was judged strictly on the nomination.

Hertford-Gates was selected as the event for the South Atlantic Relay Department to join for the current Relay year. This team is fundraising and planning just as any other team.  They are using online and individual fundraising activities and will be traveling to Chowan University to camp and walk all night to raise more money for The American Cancer Society.

Crystal Herring, Executive Director of the American Cancer Society, nominated the Hertford-Gates event.

“We are really excited to have an event out of northeast North Carolina chosen for the Relay For Life Department to participate in,” Herring said. “The Relay For Life of Hertford-Gates is a great event to showcase our hospitality and Relay spirit.”

“We are thrilled to be part of the Relay For Life of Hertford-Gates,” said Katie Paulson, captain of the South Atlantic Relay for Life team. “Participating in a community event is a chance for our staff team to experience Relay just like our volunteers. Everyone on the team pitches in to help with fundraising, decorating our campsite, food for the day of the event, recognizing team member accomplishments along the way, and ensuring that we all have a great time.

“Hertford-Gates was chosen for us by our South Atlantic Relay For Life Task Force volunteers because they saw it as a model of what Relay should be in a community, and we cannot wait to experience it for ourselves,” Paulson added.

The public is invited to take part in the April 26-27 festivities at Chowan University. There will be fun and food for everyone to enjoy while supporting a worthwhile cause.

Plaunty said the goals for the 2013 Hertford-Gates Relay for Life include $228,700 in fundraising as well as 43 teams and 715 team participants. The 2012 event raised $225,470.

To find out how you can be more involved, visit www.relayforlife.org/hertfordgatesnc.