Posted: 4/16/03

New volunteer needed to lead FL Relay for Life this summer

Cliff Buchan
News Editor

Julianne Carr plans to take part in this summerís Relay for Life as always, but the Wyoming woman is backing off from her leadership role. And that is leaving a still unfilled leadership position for the American Cancer Society fund-raiser.

Carr, a volunteer with the Relay for Life since its inception here in 1994, announced this spring she was stepping away from the job of chair. She has served as chair and co-chair of the event for the past six years.

ìWe need fresh ideas and we need fresh blood,î Carr said, explaining her decision to back away as chair of the 10th annual Relay for Life, set Aug. 1-2 at Forest Lake High School.

Carr said her decision was made well in advance to allow the ACS time to find a new chair. She said someone new will bring new energy and leadership.

Carr said she was starting to feel the burnout effect of nine years of work on the relay. She plans to take part this summer as a team member with Donnaís Darlings, but not as a leader.

As relay chair, Carr has worked with the various committees that plan and carry off the event.

The Forest Lake Relay for Life has seen dramatic growth in its first nine years of raising funds for the fight against cancer. In its first year, 1994, 13 teams raised $13,000. Last year, a total of $121,000 was raised by 42 teams.

While the relay is given goals by the American Cancer Society, Carr says local volunteers do what they can.

When the relay started in 1994, local residents didnít know what they were getting involved with, she said, but they wanted to help. Carr, a breast cancer survivor from 1991, said the desire to help is what motivates most people to get involved each year.

Carr is optimistic that someone in the Forest Lake area will step forward to take over the duties of chair.

For more information about the duties, call Carr at 651-462-8853, Pat Milbrett at 651-464-2809 or Colleen Haasl at 651-433-2389. The contact from the American Cancer Society is Matt Hammerschmidt at 651-439-1140.

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