While teams throughout Sampson County are busy holding events and raffles to raise money for the annual Relay for Life, to be held June 5-6 at Clinton High School, Prestage Farms has taken a different approach to fund-raising this year. Their efforts have been dubbed by the Sampson County Relay for Life committee as the most innovative.

Prestage Farms has participated in Sampson County Relay for Life “from the beginning,” according to Dennis Carter of the company’s human resources department.

“As a company, and our employees within the company, we are very civic-minded and very active in the community. (Relay for Life) is one of those things we want to continue to do.”

Being that Relay for Life is a fund-raising event, the Prestage team, comprised of 12 employees, put their heads together to combat the economic hardships that might prevent the company and community from giving to the cause, Carter explained.

“With the state of the economy, it’s hard to collect in the community. So we asked our employees to consider giving $1 to $5 each week through payroll deduction, writing a check, etc.”

Carter first shared this fund-raising initiative with department managers and farm managers. Carter asked farm manager Sandra Naylor to address her co-workers.

Naylor stated, “I remember last year as we sat in this room, Dennis said that one in three people will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. I’m one of those three.” Naylor shared that she was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2008.

“From that moment on, my life would never be the same,” she commented. Her cancer had spread to the lymph nodes on both sides of her neck and deep in her chest cavity. “My doctor told me it was not curable, only treatable, unless I received a divine intervention.” After 24 rounds of chemo, a lumpectomy and radiation, Naylor said doctors told her she is now in remission.

After sharing her personal battle with cancer, she challenged the other managers to do all they could do to help fight this disease.

“If we all would give a couple of dollars a week, this would make a difference. You never know when you may get up one morning and your life be changed. Cancer has been the most challenging experience I’ve had to face. Through organizations, funds donated and experimental drugs, I, as well as others I have met, have received treatment that otherwise would not be affordable.”

Carter recalled when Naylor made her speech earlier this year. “There was not a dry eye in the room. Everybody was behind this program to start with but Sandra really put them over the edge.”

Katheen Knowles, executive administrative assistant at Prestage, stated that the team was uncertain of how successful the idea would be, but she was surprised and pleased to find out so many people were on board with the program.

Carter reported that 86 percent (approximately 732) of the 852 employees of Prestage have chosen to participate.

Knowles recounted some voicemail messages employees made about the fund-raising idea. “People were so excited. It’s so inspiring how positive everyone’s being about it.”

One those excited employees is Anita Carr, an investment accountant whose mother passed away with cancer four years ago. “It was tough for me. My mother and I were really close ... It makes you want to be more involved. We need more research and money because cancer is widespread. It touches everybody in some way or another ... I don’t want others to go through what I’ve gone through.”

Other employees and their family members have been impacted by cancer, as well, Carter acknowledged. For that reason, the company has also given employees the opportunity to do a one-time payroll reduction to purchase luminaries, lanterns and torches to honor or memorialize those who have battled cancer. These candles will be lit on June 5 at the Relay for Life event. Over 70 luminaries, 20 lanterns and nine torches have been purchased thus far by Prestage employees, Knowles reported.

As an extra incentive to involve more Prestage employees in giving to the cause, Carter said that a barbecue lunch was provided for anyone who had pledged $52 ($1 a week for an entire year) or more. Employees who pledged $150 or more will be given a T-shirt, designed by employee Summer Russell. “It’s a way of saying thank you,” Carter stated.

Carter projected $25,000 would be raised by these efforts by July 31, when all 2009 Relay for Life funds are due. The company will continue with the program in anticipation of next year’s Relay for Life, he noted.

The program has “really paid off,” Knowles added. She prefers having funds taken directly out of her paychecks, rather than holding raffles and selling tickets, she mentioned. “Once you get used to having that (donation) taken out (of your paycheck), you don’t miss it that much.”

The Sampson County Relay for Life committee approved of this fund-raising idea and recognized the Prestage Farms team with an Innovation Award for having such an innovative fund-raising idea. In response to the award, Carter stated, “It’s been successful because the people here at Prestage stepped forward and did their part.”

To contact Amy Kelly call (910) 592-8137 ext. 119 or send e-mail to sigov@myclintonnc.com.