Oar Winner: The Bunco Babes won top honors for best decorated oar for the second year in a row. Mary Harrison, second from right, created a replica of the U.S.M. Coosa steamboat. With the oar as a base and part of the paddlewheel, the boat featured lights, sounds of the riverboat's docking and castoff horns and a deck filled with freight. Fellow team member and Cancer Navigators board member Kim Mauer is shown, right, as navigators Denise Powers and Angela James show the boat to the crowd.
Petals of Hope: Ford Riddle, son of the late Kandi Riddle who was a stalwart Cancer Navigators board member, was among the day's featured speakers. He recalled his mother's courage in her battle and then led the procession to the river and dropped the first flowers into the river in honor of her and his father Chip.
Media release:
More than two dozen crews and hundreds of team members participated in Cast Off Against Cancer 2012 that wrapped up Sunday with a celebration at the Harbin Clinic Tony E. Warren Cancer Center.The day included celebration of Harbin Clinic's first anniversary as well as the Petal of Hope walk and flower drop. The procession was led by Ford Riddle, son of the late Kandi Riddle who was a stalwart Cancer Navigators board member who died shortly after last year's event. After the ceremony on the pedestrian bridge, the crowd returned to the cancer center to be entertained by the Broad and Third band and for the team awards.
This year's winning crews are as follows:
Most Money Raised – This is called the "Life Jacket Award" because the fundraising by all the teams is what keeps Cancer Navigators afloat.
The Winner was the Pink Floyd crew from The Breast Center. That group led the pack by selling T-shirts that had their own version of their Pink Floyd wall. They raised more than $10,000.
First Runner-Up was Heritage First Bank's The Changemakers that raised more than $9,000. Their events included a huge yard sale and barbecue at the Armuchee branch.
Second Runner-Up was Canter 4 Cancer that raised $8,000. Cyndy Ferguson and her crew held a Canter 4 Cancer trail ride day at the Western Saddle Club. She coordinated the event and raised funds all while she was on her own second journey through cancer.
Spirit Award – This award is called the "All Hands on Deck" award because it takes everyone showing their spirit to earn this one.
Winner was Harbin Clinic's Pirates of Care Giving. They were so enthusiastic at their Treasure Trail event, but then showed up in full pirate attire sporting their own ship at Sunday's event. They also did a conga line through the parking lot as Broad and Third entertained the crowd. Spirit Ahoy!
First Runner-Up was Mary Kate's First Mates. There was a constant stream of folks into the Cancer Navigators offices the past two months, coming in to buy T-shirts and support Mary Kate Vick Fuller in her journey. She enrolled about 130 "first mates" and many of them joined her for the Petals of Hope walk and flower drop.
Second Runner-Up was Floyd EMS' Lifesavers Navigators. This team was enthusiastic all the way through, said judges. They also had an EMS crew on hand at the event in case any attendees had any issues and needed their help.
Best Decorated Oars: "When Cancer Navigators decided to use paddles as a symbol of our event and to have each crew decorate an oar as a highlight, I don't think we ever imagined that teams would produce these kinds of creations," said Cancer Navigators Executive Director Charlotte Atkins. "This year, crews took the competition to a whole new level and the judges had an extremely tough time narrowing it down to the top three."
This award is called the Knot Award because paddles are used to create momentum and speed and the oar decorating event definitely gives the "Cast Off Against Cancer" event momentum, says Atkins.
All of the oars will remain on display at the Cancer Center for the next month.
Last year's Best Decorated Oar champions returned to again nab top honors. The Bunco Babes outdid themselves and everyone else with Mary Harrison's replica of the U.S.M. Coosa steamboat (the first to ever ply the waters of the local Coosa River.) With the oar as a base and part of the paddlewheel, the boat featured lights, sounds of the riverboat's docking and castoff horns and a deck filled with freight. There was even LED "steam and smoke" coming out of the smokestack.
First Runner-Up went to the "We Are Redmond" crew for its "adorable" birdhouse sitting atop the oar handle and mounted on its own base touting Camp Bluebird. Redmond Chaplain Billy Murdoch told the crowd it was created by cancer patients, which makes it all the more special, said Cancer Navigators staffers.
Second Runner-up was the Paddle Posse from Floyd Medical Center's lab. Their oar featured all the different colored ribbons that represent the various kinds of cancer. It also included LED lighting so that the oar and the ribbons lit up. "It was a very creative and a beautiful reminder of what Cancer Navigators and our event are really all about – the patients on their journey dealing with all kinds of cancer," said Atkins.
"We'd like to thank all of the teams for all their hard work and creativity for this year's event. Every dollar stays right here in our community to help area cancer patients on their journey," she added. "We'd also like to thank our sponsors State Mutual Insurance, Heritage First Bank, Floyd Medical Center, Harbin Clinic and Redmond Regional Medical Center."
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