Feb 11, 2016 4 min read

Greene County Relay For Life has taken the American Cancer Society’s national fundraiser of selling daffodils in bundles and added a new twist.

“We’re not calling it Daffodil Days because it’s not,” Relay For Life Specialist Steve Gillis said.

“We’re just selling daffodils that we purchase ourselves and the money will go directly to our campaign. This is a new fundraiser for us, so we’ll see how it goes.”

Gillis spoke to team members gathered in the Central Greene High School library Monday and told them flower orders must be in by Feb. 18 and will be delivered March 14.

New ideas and energetic teams are what Relay for Life depends on to meet the challenge of raising more money each year to support ACA programs that guide cancer patients and their caregivers through its National Cancer Information Center, bring services to those going through treatment, help fund cancer research and lobby for legislative support and reform at the state and national level.

The 24-hour walk-a-thon starts April 30, with teams and their supporters circling the athletic track with fun, games and determination to fight cancer until the closing ceremony May 1.

The lead up to relay includes fundraisers scheduled by the 20 teams to help put the Greene County relay on the map as one of the top 10 fund-raising relays in the United States

“They upped our goal,” Gillis said. “Because we reached $215,000 last year, we’re being challenged to reach $225,000.”

Tribute luminaries will circle the field and be lit at dusk on April 30. If purchased before April 18, the names of those they pay tribute to will be listed in the program book, chairperson Earlene Schifko said.

Paint the Town Purple banners are also on sale and all Relay teams are having fundraisers to help them reach their individual goals.

Painting With a Twist is donating all profits from a night of art to Team Owlbee. The paint and sip is 2-4 p.m. March 6, and registration can be done online.

A used book sale is set for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 19 at Waynesburg Central High School cafeteria.

These upcoming events and more can be found at “Relay for Life-Greene County PA” on Facebook, along with contact information for purchasing luminaries and banners and a schedule of activities, including entertainment and competitions as they are confirmed.

This year’s theme is Relay Around the World and teams will turn their campsites into famous towns or cities, imaginary or otherwise. Teams will also compete to build cardboard vehicles that two members playing doctor and patient will race for the cure.

Sheriff Brian Tennant and his team of family and friends are looking forward to their first Relay.

Tennant’s cancer saga began in 2010 when he was diagnosed at age 27 with a malignant brain tumor.

“They gave me two years max, but I wasn’t willing to accept that,” he said.

Alternative treatment was finally found that caused the tumor to shrink and normal life was again a reality. Tennant returned to his job as a Waynesburg policeman and went on to be elected Greene County sheriff.

“I had chemo and radiation and when I put it out there I received so much love and support that my family and I wanted to give something back,” Tennant told the other team members at the meeting. “We’re working on a fundraiser and when we have it figured out, I’ll let everybody know.”

For more information about cancer or to discuss personal issues of treatment, insurance and programs, including the availability of clinical trials, call the National Cancer Information Center at 1-800-227-2345 or go online at cancer.org.

To order daffodils before Feb. 18, contact Gillis at 724-222-6911 or steve.gillis@cancer.org.