The View 38002 May 2014 | Page 7

38002.com theview theview May 2014 Continued from front page Arlington Relay because it has a special community feel.” Kahuski supports the American Cancer Society because it is the single largest funder of cancer research. “Since 1995,” she adds, “the ACS has raised 5 billion— that’s with a ‘b’—dollars to fight cancer.” Krista Pearce agreed to captain Lakeland Elementary’s Team Spain — the “Lakeland Leónes for Jaxon Hindman,” (“leónes” is Spanish for “lions”) — in honor of her mother. Pearce explains that when she was approached by Lakeland PTA president Cat Wright to head the team, it was easy for her to accept, although she had never been to a Relay for Life event. “My mom’s birthday is May 3—the date of this year’s Relay—and it is also the one year anniversary of her being diagnosed for the second time with breast cancer,” Pearce states. “My mom is a huge fan of the American Cancer Society because they give so much more support to cancer research than other organizations,” she continues. Pearce’s mother plans to attend the Survivors Dinner. The Lakeland Elementary School team was named in honor of 12-year old Jaxon Hindman, a former LES student and Lakeland resident who was recently diagnosed with brain cancer. “Cancer has touched us all,” Pearce adds. “I’ve had friends lose mothers; there’s just got to be a better way” to fight cancer. At eleven years old, Haley Pardue of Team France is hands-down the youngest team captain for Relay38002. A three-year veteran of Relay for Life, Pardue couldn’t find a team to join when her former team captain, mom Cheryl Pardue, took a position on the Relay 38002 organizing committee. Pardue admits that there have been “a lot” of responsibilities with being a team captain, including monthly captains’ meetings, recruiting volunteers and (her favorite part) fundraising. Since September, Pardue has organized her 14 teammates—eight kids, six adults—and raised almost $3,900 through yard sales, a “Cheesecakes for Cancer” event, and a Valentine’s Dinner at the United Methodist Church of Macedonia. For Pardue, it’s been worth the work: “Being involved with Relay for Like makes you realize how many people have cancer and what they’re going through by seeing everyone at the event and how emotional they are,” Pardue explains. “It makes me feel good because the survivors, family members, and caregivers feel loved and supported by Relay.” Page 7 Lakeland Holds Meet & Greet for Development Community Special to THE VIEW 38002 On April 22, the City of Lakeland held a meet & greet reception at Stonebridge Golf Club. The purpose was to let the local-area business community know that Lakeland is open for business with a renewed focus on developing Lakeland into a premier area for businesses and families. A crowd of approximately 80 people, ranging from developers to architects, engineers, banks and homebuilders, were on hand to listen to Mayor Wyatt Bunker, the Board of Commissioners, and City Planning staff describe how Lakeland is changing the way it does business. Lakeland School Board Chairm