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| Bartow Relay For Life History We are going to head it up and move it out! |
| John Hutto initiated Relay For Life in Bartow in 2002 and continued to be Chairman through 2004. It took some persuasion to get it started in Bartow with Making Strides Against Cancer having been so successful. Ft. Meade joined with Bartow to start the Relay For Life in Bartow. This being so very successful after 3 years Ft. Meade began hosting their own Relay and have grown each year.
Eunice Hutto, Executive Director of the Polk County American Cancer Society office tells a story that she heard from Pat Warbritton, past unit Executive Director about driving over to the first Bartow Relay. She said there was a torrential downpour, so bad that she could barely even see to drive. When she arrived at the Bartow Stadium, not knowing what to expect, and despite the horrible weather, the fire truck was raising the American Flag and the crowds were there. She says this speaks volumes for Bartow and its residents. All of John’s hard work was paying off and thus Bartow began a growing tradition of hosting a Relay every year. John also initiated the Sticky Fingers BBQ Cook Off which is now a big part of our Relay. Everyone looks forward to the great BBQ dinners each year prepared by the BBQ teams. The meat for the BBQ is donated by Publix Super Market in Bartow. John also worked with Watson Clinic to sponsor and organize the annual Survivor Dinner for Bartow and Ft. Meade cancer survivors. Last year we had approximately 300 guests in attendance, cancer survivors and caregivers included. In 2005 John turned over chairmanship to Neal Duncan who chaired it for 2005 and 2006. In 2006 it was so cold one could hardly move let alone walk all night, this did not stop Bartow from yet another record setting Relay For Life. Candy Grubbs was Chairman for 2007 and 2008 turning the post over to her Co-Chairman Dixie Yost for 2009. Year Teams Chairman Amount Raised Theme 2002 John Hutto $ 62,000.00 Stars and Stripes 2003 48 John Hutto $109,000.00 Hurray for Hollywood 2004 62 John Hutto $133,000.00 Let’s Toon Out Cancer 2005 40 Neal Duncan $161,000.00 Community of Champions 2006 45 Neal Duncan $180,000.00 The Greatest Hope in the World 2007 55 Candy Grubbs $258,000.00 The Great Escape, Take a Vacation From Cancer 2008 58 Candy Grubbs $233,000.00 Bartow Rocks, Cancer will Roll 2009 58 Dixie Yost $186,878.51 We’re Going on a Cancer Round-Up, To Head it Up And Move it Out |
