Downtown Blue Ridge hosted the 2011 Fannin County Relay for Life event Friday. A huge, lively crowd came out to celebrate cancer survivors, remember lost loved ones, and to raise money for research.

Cancer survivors begin the 2011 Relay For Life walk

Relay for Life is a signature event of the American Cancer Society. As Natalie Phipps of the ACS explained, the event is “an opportunity for the community to come out and unite together in celebration of cancer survivors, to remember those we’ve lost, and to raise money for cancer research”.

The main event was a fundraising relay walk, held from 7pm Friday till 7am Saturday, that circled through down town. Mrs. Phipps explained, “Cancer never sleeps so we pick one night that we don’t sleep either”.

Blue Ridge Mayor Donna Whitener and event MC Jack Morton

Dr. Jennifer Jones of Georgia Cancer Specialists addresses the crowd

The presenting sponsor, United Community Bank, played a large part in setting up the event and provided dinner and t-shirts for the cancer survivors in attendance. There were lots of fun activities set up for the kids, including a bounce house and a climbing wall.

The United Community Bank of Blue Ridge served as the event’s presenting sponsor

Boy Scout Troop #32 of Epworth, GA leads the Pledge of Allegiance

Activities for the kids included a bouncy house and a climbing wall