By Matthew Burgoyne
Staff Writer

A weekend of remembrance and hope is coming to Morgan County on May 2 to May 3, 2008 with the 2008 Relay For Life.
The Relay For Life of Morgan County will be held at Heritage Park the first weekend of May. The Relay For Life celebrates survivors of cancer and honors those who have been lost. It is a community effort. Every year, 2.25 million people participate in Relay For Life events worldwide. This weekend, the citizens of Morgan County will have their chance to be apart of this community event.
The ceremonies start at 6 p.m. and will continue through the night. This year, over 320 participants are signed up for the event. Morgan County has raised $24,000 so far, but there is still time. This year’s goal is $65,000.
“We hope to raise $20,000 at the event itself,” said Emma Holman, a Relay For Life representative.
There will be on-site fund-raising including food sales, game sales, donations, and luminary sales. The luminaries, which are candles placed in paper bags inscribed with a person’s name, are used to honor or remember someone who has been affected by cancer.
“There’s such a hope out there to find a cure. We need the support to fund the research and to prolong our services at the American Cancer Society. Relay For Life is great for that,” said Holman.
Holman has worked at the American Cancer Society in Athens for the past 8 months. She loves the work she does there.“Everyone is affected by cancer. I believe in the American Cancer Society and what they stand for,” Holman said.
It is never too late to help. Donations can be made in honor or remembrance of someone.
 Donations  can be sent to:
Relay For Life – Morgan County
American Cancer Society
1684 Barnett Shoals Rd
Athens, GA 30605
Attn: Emma Holman