By Emily Patrick
Staff Writer

Last school year, the faculty and staff at Morgan County Elementary School came together to “give cancer the boot.”

A team of more than 60 people from MCES worked all school year to raise almost $3000 for the American Cancer Society through the Relay for Life fundraiser.

On April 20, the MCES team gathered at the Dupree Track to participate in the fundraiser's culminating event, an all-night relay around the track. They were the largest Relay group in Morgan County.

But Relay was not just about the money for this team: the event brought the school community together during a difficult time. Several faculty members have lost loved ones to cancer in the last few years.

“What we decided to do as a staff was just really support Relay this year and really get behind our people that have just experienced so much tragedy,” said Jean Triplett, the principal at MCES.

Triplett said that even though the relay took place during the busiest time of the year, the teachers were enthusiastic about committing their time to the event.

“It touched my heart to see our staff come together as a school family and so many people give their time to be a part this year. It's such a busy time every year,” she said. “To me, that just exemplified what a school family is all about.”
Teacher Jennifer Evans led the school as team captain. She organized a jean day program to raise money in which staff members can wear jeans every day this month in exchange for their donation.

She said participating in Relay had team-building benefits for the school community.

“We wanted to support the families in our school who have either had cancer or lost someone with cancer,” she said.“I think that really drove everyone. Everyone got on the bandwagon.”

Evans looks forward to participating in MCES's Relay team next year.

“I think this will be an every-year kind of thing,” she said.

Printed in the July 5, 2012 edition