The People of Purpose Relay for Life team includes, back row, from left, Jerry Mitchum, Ryan Mitchum, the Rev. Eddie Smith, Joe Killen, the Rev. Greg Smith; front row, Jessica Mitchum, Tammy Smith, Tracy Killen and Lindsey Mitchum. Team members not pictured are Jimm Stafford, Shelia Stafford, Jim Salazar, Jerry Parrish, Shelia Parrish and the Rev. Wayne Aaron. The team are participating in their first full year of Relay for Life fund-raising this year.
A new recruit last year was People of Purpose, a support group for ministry that is based in Salemburg. However, team captain Tracy Killen said they signed up “late in the game” last year, so this is their “first full year” of participating. Killen anticipates her team making an even greater impact at this year’s Relay for Life. The team has already surpassed their goal of raising $1,000 for the cause.
People of Purpose got started in Relay for Life by Killen’s prompting. As a hospice nurse, Killen said she sees cancer all the time and she wanted to do something to help find a cure.
“(Relay for Life) is such a wonderful cause,” she stated. “So many people are affected by (cancer). Just about all of the members of our group have been affected by cancer in some way.”
Participation in Relay for Life also fits in with the mission of People of Purpose, which is a group of ministers who meet monthly to talk about ministries going on in the area and to support one another’s efforts. “We will assist anyone that needs prayer, ministry support, meals or just to talk. Whatever the need, we will try to help,” their promotional flyer states.
The acronym utilized by People of Purpose is F.I.S.H. — Find, Invest, Share, Help. Participating in Relay for Life is one way to “F.I.S.H.” in the community, Killen explained.
To raise money for the cause of cancer, People of Purpose have hosted fund-raisings each month since February this year. Upcoming this month is their biggest yet — Family Fun Day. Festivities will kickoff at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, and a pork dinner will be served at 5 p.m., with live music to follow.
The music will be provided by several local musicians and the featured band will be High Road, a Christian rock group performing at 6:30 p.m.
In addition to food and music, there will be games, such as volleyball and croquet, being played and other activities for children.
Everyone must have a ticket so the team will know how much food to prepare, Killen explained, but there is no set fee. “Tickets are being sold on a donation basis ... We’re not putting a price on tickets; we ask people to give what’s on their conscience.”
People of Purpose are anticipating feeding over 150 people at Family Fun Day. Killen commented, “If it grows to more than that, that’s wonderful.”
Killen said all of the food has been donated for Family Fun Day, and she specifically acknowledged Martin’s Meats for donating all of the meat. Any unused food will be prepared and sold at Relay for Life, she added.
Killen expressed her excitement for the upcoming event, and hopes that her team will not only raise money for Relay for Life, but also minister to the community. “I really feel like this is going to be a wonderful event,” she concluded.
For more information, directions and tickets please contact Tracy Killen at (910) 990-0148, Eddie Smith at (910) 525-5639 or Joe Killen at (910) 214-1512.
Amy Kelly can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 119 or by e-mail at sigov@myclintonnc.com.
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