By Carol McIntire
Editor

Ralph McNutt and John Hawk cut the Relay ribbon.

Two longtime friends, both cancer survivors, shared the honor of cutting the ribbon to begin the 2008 Carroll County Relay for Life.

John Hawk and  Ralph McNutt, both 1962 graduates of the former Augusta High School, cut the ribbon and led the group of survivors as they began a lap around the race track at the county fairgrounds Friday evening. Both are members of the Mt. Zion church team.

McNutt said he was first diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 1999. "They told my family while I was in the recovery room that I wouldn’t survive it," said McNutt.

Make it he did. And, he has survived three bouts with liver cancer and one with stomach cancer.

"I keep going by the grace of God," he said while relaxing at the Mt. Zion campsite. "Without Him, I wouldn’t be here." He has been a constant supporter of Relay For Life, attending since 2000.

He and his wife, Sandy, have a son, Ralph Jr., and a daughter, Shirley Pitts. He resides outside Minerva on Malibu Rd.

Hawk, of Carrollton, said a positive attitude has helped see him through three different occurances of cancer. He was first diagnosed with lymphoma in 1982. All are in remission now.

"Your attitude is a lot of what helps you get through it," he said referring to cancer. "You also have to have faith."
Hawk has been a participant at the Carrollton Relay for nine of the 11 years it has been held. He and his wife, Mary, have two daughters, Lisa Ellington and Tammy Bankert, and three grandchildren.

As of the morning, the net income for the Carroll County Relay for Life stood at $30,257.04.Donations will be accepted through Aug. 20 toward the 2008 total.
Winners in the team contests at Relay included:
Best campsite- Captain Kirks.
Best Banner - Order of Eastern Star Star Walkers.
Best Education Message - Mt. Zion.

The winner of the quilt, donated in memory of Marilyn Smith by the team known as Our Gang, was Dorothy Peterson of Carrollton.
Our Gang members expressed appreciation to Shirlee Berry for her assistance with the project. Berry provided the batting, backing and did the quilting on the project. "We couldn’t have done it without her," said Lenore Devitt, a team member.
The group raised $1,957 for Relay with the sale of tickets for the quilt and by selling candy bars.

The teams raising the top amount of money included Curves, $5,228.93 and The Free Press Standard, $4,000.20.