Evans High team collects $22,000 for cancer battle

An Evans High School Relay for Life team raised more money to fight cancer than any other area team.

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Since January, Evans High's team has worked to collect more than $22,000 and will take part this weekend in a Relay for Life event at Westside High School.

The relay starts at 7 p.m. Friday and ends at 7 a.m. Saturday.

The school's 140-member group was listed as the top-earning team, according to Augusta's Relay for Life page on the American Cancer Society's Web site.

Megan Durand, an Evans High junior, collected $2,000.

In addition to her fundraising activities, Megan hopes to fight against cancer as an oncologist.

With her great-aunt battling breast cancer and her grandmother living with bone cancer for 10 years, she said, cancer has played a big role in her life.

"Cancer's always run through my family, so I'm kind of used to it now," she said. "It just kind of excited me whenever I heard there was actually something that I could raise money to help cancer research and find a cure for it."

Other top earners at the school include freshman Jimmy Pulley, who raised $1,000; sophomore Daniel Edmunds, who has raised $635; and senior Sean Matthews, who raised nearly $500.

Evans High formed a Relay for Life team in previous years, but Teresa Davis, a math teacher at the school, started up the program again in 2003 with about 15 team members. Since 2003, the team has raised about $68,000.

"I think most people in some form or fashion have been touched by cancer or will be touched by cancer in their (lives) whether personally or through family members or friends," said Davis, the team captain. "It was something that I felt like everyone could associate with."

In addition to students, 12 faculty and staff members also are active participants on the team.

Team members have raised funds through bake sales, contributions from friends and relatives, and through online donations. The team also has sold paper links, which were on display at the school.

Pulley said his family, the owners of Precision Tune Auto Care, have run specials and sold raffle tickets to customers in an effort to raise money.

Seniors Lauren Sharpton and Danielle Kohberger serve as the team's captains.

"I think it's a great cause in general just because cancer's such a terrible epidemic now and just being able to be a part of helping cancer research is amazing," said Sharpton, whose mother was diagnosed with colorectal cancer almost three years ago. "I just think it's a fun time for everybody at our school."

Kohberger agreed, adding that the event rallies the school's students together for a common cause.

"Usually, it's segregated by the grades, but it's a night that we all just have fun," she said.

Team members participated in a bake sale fundraiser at Fort Gordon last weekend, earning an additional $322 to donate to the American Cancer Society.

"They love what it's about," Davis said.

"These kids are really wanting to see a cure for cancer and hoping that their money helps do that."