Barrow Relay for Life

Tonight I photographed the Barrow County Relay for Life as close to 1,200 participants came out to Bulldog country to help raise money to find a cure for cancer at Winder-Barrow Stadium on Friday May 13, 2011.The 2011 Relay for Life started at 7 p.m. on Friday and lasted until Saturday morning with 56 teams continuously walking the track at the stadium. Lined with tents touting team names such as Hope Floats and Patti’s Pals, participants raised additional money in the infield of the track by selling food, bracelets, ballons and a multitude of other wares. Live music and talent contests provided extra entertainment on the main stage in the Bulldog endzone. But the main event for the evening was the luminary lap around the track. Stadium lights were extinguished as participants walked in silence to a single trumpet and “Amazing Grace” after volunteers had lit luminaries lining the entire track and spelling out Hope 2011 in the stands. “[Relay] is important so that someone else can be saved,” said Kendra Pendley while she takes photos of the luminary in honor of her grandfather, Dewey Bible, who passed away in April. These are my favorite images from Relay that I photographed for the Barrow Patch.

Sisters Linda Glazier, left, and Sandy Gregory walk the track at Winder-Barrow Stadium in memory of their father D.D. Propes during the Barrow Relay for Life on Friday May 13, 2011. "My dad is my heart," said Glazier. "His death makes you think it could be any one of us next."

Amanda Densmore, left, puts the finishing touches on Audrey Howard's hair as Densmore raises additional money for her team during the Barrow Relay for Life on Friday May 13, 2011.

Alex Matthey, left, and Amanda Gavin have their photo taken by Jessica Britt in front of the Apalachee Anchor Club tent during the Barrow Relay for Life on Friday May 13, 2011.

Dressed in a purple spandex suit, Jerry Martin walks the track at Winder-Barrow Stadium in honor of Lisa Leiter, Janine Joseph, Renee Corroza and Kevin Evans during the Barrow Relay for Life on Friday May 13, 2011.

Susan McWhorter lights luminaries spelling out Hope 2011 in preparation for the silent luminary lap during the Barrow Relay for Life at Winder-Barrow Stadium on Friday May 13, 2011.

Luminaries line the track at Winder-Barrow Stadium during the Barrow Relay for Life on Friday May 13, 2011.

Luminaries line the track and spell out "Hope" at Winder-Barrow Stadium during the Barrow Relay for Life on Friday May 13, 2011.

Dawn Peppers looks down a luminaries as she and close 1,200 other participants walk along the track at Winder-Barrow Stadium during the silent luminary lap at the Barrow Relay for Life on Friday May 13, 2011.

Kendra Pendley takes a photo of the luminary in honor of her grandfather Dewey Bible, who passed away in April, during the silent luminary lap at the Barrow Relay for Life at Winder-Barrow Stadium on Friday May 13, 2011. "Relay is important so that someone else can be saved," said Pendley.