AHOSKIE – More than 275 people attended Hertford-Gates County Relay For Life’s Cancer Survivor Celebration Dinner on Saturday, April 21 at the Ahoskie Inn.

The celebration began with welcoming everyone by Mary Lynn Rawls, Cancer Survivor Chair. Following the introduction door prizes were given by the Survivor Committee. Margaret Brittenham, Survivor Committee member, gave thanks for the meal. Following the meal special music was presented by Ginny Cowper.

Roger and Kathy Cawthorn were the main speakers for this year’s celebration. Both are 11-year cancer survivors. During their inspirational speech they shared their personal experience with cancer. Both Roger and Kathy were diagnosed with cancer within six months of each other.

They both shared the importance of cancer research and what The American Cancer Society and Relay For Life meant to them.

Dot Williford was presented a special award for being the oldest Cancer Survivor present. Mrs. Williford is an 88-year-old survivor from Ahoskie.

Maryet Carter, a 24-year-old Breast cancer survivor from Murfreesboro, received an award for being the youngest Cancer Survivor present.

The award for the longest cancer survivor was presented to Ms. Alice Lassiter, a 46-year melanoma survivor from Aulander.

Cancer Survivors are encouraged to join in for a special Celebration at the opening of Relay For Life on Friday, April 27 at Chowan University. The opening ceremony and introduction will begin at 6:30 p.m. Survivors should register on site at the Survivor Registration tent. Survivors should stop by the onsite check-in tent which will open at 5 p.m. Survivors will receive special gifts and a t-shirt for participating in this great event.

Following the introduction, Survivors will take the celebratory first lap to kick off the 2007 Hertford-Gates Relay For Life. Participants and family and friends will surround the track and cheer for the survivors as they take this lap. Following the Survivor Lap will be a special lap for caregivers who also play an important roll in the fight against cancer.

Survivors as well as family and friends are encouraged to stay for a special Luminary Ceremony beginning at 9 p.m. Luminaries will line the track and burn throughout the night following this special ceremony. Luminaries may still be purchased up until 6:30 p.m. on Friday and will be placed around the track. The names of those honored or memorialized will not be displayed on the screen unless the Luminaries were purchased and received by the Luminary Committee prior to April 10.

Hertford-Gates Relay for Life will continue throughout the night on Friday and end Saturday afternoon. Thirty-six teams will participate in the round-the-clock Relay, which is chocked full of special events, entertainment, food, beverages, raffles and other activities. A Kids Walk is featured from 10 a.m. until 12 noon on Saturday.

As always, Relay for Life is open to the public.

For complete details, look inside today’s edition of the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald for a special insert.