"Were going to win in 2010."

That's the mantra of Relay for Life Campaign 2010 organizers.

"Say it every day, and don't just say it-believe it, feel it, live it and make it happen," said Debby Gray, Blount County Relay team retention chair and event chair for 2011, and special speaker for the Loudon County Relay for Life Campaign kickoff event at Fort Loudoun Medical Center Thursday.

Gray said the meaning of "winning," in this instance, is simple: Cancer victims celebrate more birthdays, and families, friends and loved ones attend fewer funerals.

The kickoff theme was A Day at the Fair, and the event included cotton candy, sno-cones, popcorn and games, as well as a birthday cake, in observance of the 17th birthday for Loudon County Relay for Life.

Kris Jones, Loudon County Relay for Life 2010 campaign co-chairperson, encouraged event attendees to remember the reason behind Relay for Life, and treat it as a celebration. Still, Jones said, Loudon County has seen 100 deaths from cancer over the last year.  

For that reason, the 2010 campaign goal is $100,000.

The economic downturn has impacted fundraising in recent years, and in 2009, the Loudon County campaign netted $76,000. While short of the '09 goal of $102,000, Roberta Rice, campaign co-chairperson, said, "That's the most we've ever raised."

The Loudon County Relay for Life 2010 Campaign is setting its sights on signing up 40 teams -10 more than participated in 2009 and more than double the 17 involved in 2008. Serving as team development chairperson for 2010 is Mandy Scarborough and team recruitment chairperson is Missy Garner. 

Other committee members are: Courtney Norman, luminary; Becky Narvel, survivorship; Kathy Yocom, corporate sponsor; Keith Swinney, logistics and Mike Kittle, promotions.

Cancer touches everyone in some way. Swinney, a survivor, told of providing bone marrow for a 21-year old girl from Dubuque, Iowa to receive a transplant. It was at that point that Swinney became aware of cancer.

"I was one of the lucky ones. No one in our family ever had cancer, but we donated blood ... and I had entered the national bone marrow registry," Swinney said, describing the impact that connection made on his own life.

Later, he was diagnosed with cancer himself. "My wife and I were told I had three years to live, but  I had surgery at Vanderbilt and there's still no sign of it," he said. "You don't know what it is about until the C word comes into your own family.  "

The 2010 Relay for Life event is slated to take place April 30, at Legion Field in Loudon.

Local businesses, industries and organizations are encouraged to establish teams and get involved. For more information, call Roberta Rice at 865-599-3964.