Page 15 - RELAY FOR LIFE 2013 -- An LDN Publication

2013 RELAY FOR LIFE. LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com jUNE 17, 2013
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year’s event.
Relay For Life was originated in the mid-1980s by
one man, Dr. Gordy Klatt, who spent a 24-hour period
walking the track of Baker Stadium at the University
of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash., raising money and
awareness for the American Cancer Society. As he
walked the track, he thought of how this could develop
into something with relay teams who walked to raise
money. In his one action, he proved that one man can
make a difference.
In Logan County, Relay For Life events began in
1998 at the Lincoln Park District Rec Center. Post
attended that first event as a spectator and supporter,
but like the good doctor who began this tradition, Post
went on to be one man who made a difference. He has
been serving as a vital member of this event ever since.
Post began volunteering in September of that first
year. He has served on the Logan Relay For Life board
as well as the regional board. Each year he attends
Relay University, where folks gather to share ideas for
fundraising.
Sauer read from Post’s biography:
“Bill also has been serving as luminary chair since
2003. He has volunteered for several occasions in
Springfield and has also represented the American
Cancer Society at the Logan County Health Fair each
year.”
Sauer ended by saying: “A big ‘thank-you’ to you,
Bill, for your many years of hard work and dedication
to the American Cancer Society.”
Each year Post is responsible for collecting money
and names for the luminarias. At the Relay event, each
donor has a luminaria bag sitting on the track. The name
of the donor or donors and those they are honoring are
written on each bag.
When darkness fell on the parking lot of Lincoln
College’s Lincoln Center Friday night, the luminarias
were lit. During the luminaria lap, beginning at 9 p.m.,
Post carefully and patiently read the names of each
donor and their honoree. This year there were over
1,000 to be read, a task that took about an hour to
complete.
[By NILA SMITH]