Congratulations are in order for Chilton County High School for more than doubling its Cancer Relay for Life goal. In fact, the school set a goal of $3,000 but raised more than $8,000 for the cause.

Scott Mims’ story in Friday’s Clanton Advertiser and on www.clantonadvertiser.com explained that several education officials were to spend the night on the roof of the school as a result of a promise made by assistant principal Jim Shannon to “sleep on the roof” if the school met its Relay goal.

This type fun has helped make the Relay for Life crusade in Chilton County one of the best in Alabama. I believe it is one of best in the country.

Other schools and many other groups and organizations throughout the county are raising similar amounts for the local Relay program. The program is embraced by thousands of people in Chilton County, and its organizers should be proud of what the program accomplishes every year.

Friday night the annual supporters from throughout the county will gather at City Park in Clanton for the relay itself. One of my favorite events on the final weekend is the lap walked by cancer survivors.

My wife, Peggy, is a cancer survivor and there is not a day goes by that I do not thank God for the cancer researchers who work tirelessly to improve the survival rate of those who have cancer. Research is very expensive, and events like Relay for Life provide the critical funds needed for the research to continue.

If you have made a donation to any of the many Relay for Life projects this year, or want to make a donation, come to City Park here Friday evening and watch local cancer survivors kick off the relay with the first lap. They are the reason why so many people here work tirelessly to make the local program such a huge success every year.

I know I appreciate the efforts of everyone more than I could ever express. One day there will be a cure for cancer. Many, many people in Chilton County will have played a role in bringing that cure about.

– Mike Kelley is the publisher of The Clanton Advertiser. His column appears on Sundays. He can be reached at mike.kelley@clantonadvertiser.com.