GALLIPOLIS — Gallia County Relay For Life officially kicked-off its 2009 season during a luncheon held at Holzer Medical Center on Monday.

Relay For Life, the American Cancer Society’s signature fundraising event, is scheduled to be held on Friday, June 5 this year with closing ceremonies set for Saturday, June 6.

Dr. Alice Dachowski, GCRFL chairperson for survivorship, made the opening comments and pointed out that GCRFL began 12 years ago with just a handful of people banding together to raise around $3,000 and has since grown to include people from all over the county who were able to raise more than $100,000 in 2008.

Dachowski also recognized area youth for getting involved in GCRFL and especially thanked the Ohio Valley Christian volleyball team for organizing a fundraising event in which their team challenged the OVC boy’s soccer team to a volleyball match.

GCRFL Chairperson Bonnie McFarland, Holzer Center for Cancer Care Executive Director Ken Moore, and Breast Health Specialist of the Holzer Center for Cancer Care Sandy Corbin took the stage next and presented a Special Hero Award to Dachowski for her dedication not only to GCRFL, but to the American Cancer Society as well.

Bryna Butler and Kyla Carpenter, finance co-chairs for GCRFL, conducted the financial report and gave out awards recognizing businesses and teams that made outstanding contributions to the 2008 GCRFL. According to Carpenter, last year’s goal was to raise $85,000, though nearly $108,000 ended up being collected. She added that approximately $22,000 has already been raised so far this year.

Moore made closing comments and reminded those present that cancer survivors are some of the strongest people in the world. He also recognized McFarland for “taking the bull by the horns to get Relay For Life going in Gallia County.”

The event concluded with the Gallia County Relay Committee and team captains and members reciting the Relay For Life oath, which ends with “the goal of a cancer free world.”