Relay For Life 2009

On June 12th and 13th, Hallmark students and staff participated in the annual Franklin County Relay For Life to benefit the American Cancer Society. Not only has Hallmark been a major sponsor of this event for the past three years, but it has become a source of pride for those students who volunteer each year in an effort to give back to the community that became their home away from home while attending Hallmark. A core group of approximately 25 students captured over 6,000 images, from the moment the cancer survivors took the opening lap at 5:30 pm on Friday evening until the closing ceremony at 3:00 pm on Saturday afternoon. In addition, the students photographed each and every team in group photographs in a makeshift studio set up in one of the buildings on the local fairgrounds where the event took place.

For a $5.00 donation, anyone can decorate a paper-bag Luminaria, writing a poem or personal thoughts in memory of a loved one who has succumbed to cancer or in honor of someone still fighting the disease. Over 7,000 Luminarias glowed throughout the night as Relay participants, including Hallmark's team, the Hallmark Hipsters, walked laps all night and into the next day. The Hallmark Hipsters are also proud to be the top fundraising team out of 90 teams that participated. The Hipsters were the only team to achieve Platinum Level, raising over $15,000. The event was extremely rewarding for all those involved.