By EMELINE HAWKINS

For the Northwest News

HUNTERTOWN — The Northwest Allen County Schools Relay for Life was recognized with a special award Feb. 8.

The American Cancer Society’s Spirit of Relay Awards seek to honor and recognize all those who have gone above and beyond to help the American Cancer Society to end cancer as we know it, for everyone, through the Relay For Life movement.

According to a press release from NACS, this ranges from engaging survivors, or an entire school community, to promoting an event, or creating an event experience to remember, with the individual victories collectively translating to the ultimate victory of beating the biggest rival — cancer.

“I couldn’t be prouder to be part of a community that continues to serve others through such philanthropic efforts,” said Wayne Barker, superintendent, Northwest Allen County Schools.

The Spirit of Relay Awards are presented in two categories: nomination-based, from each ACS region and called the Pat Flynn Spirit of Relay Award, and data-determined.

Once an event is nominated, it goes on to the regional volunteer leadership team, who then selects 4-5 events and 4-5 individuals, whom they feel best represented the Spirit of Relay. A winner is then chosen and advances to the national award nomination.

There are six regions within ACS who have a regional winner for this award and only one is chosen for the national award.

What makes it extra special this year is that from NACS Relay For Life, there were two nominations and both of them won the regional award for the North Central Region.

These winners were Jodi Jovevski for the individual Spirit of Relay for her dedication and commitment to childhood cancer. She was able to find new ways to fundraise and share the mission through her unique event Emmy’s Evening of Hope, and her amazing RFL fundraising success with Team #EmmyStrong.

The event winner was NACS Chargers Fighting Cancer for their amazing school involvement throughout the entire year as a whole, and especially due to their unique Schools vs Cancer fundraising program, which is also number one in the nation. Through their nomination for the regional Spirit of Relay award, NACS Relay For Life went on to the national level and was selected as the national winner of the Spirit of Relay award.

“These awards speak volumes about the dedication and hard work of the NACS Relay For Life Leadership Committee and specifically the chairs, Kathleen Dougald and Tammy Royer. To win on the National level demonstrates all that they do to make this event such a tremendous success. Their commitment, along with Jodi Jovevski’s, is changing the way we fight cancer as we know it,” said Julie Goodwin, associate director for Indiana Development. “I am so proud of their, and all of the schools’, role in winning these awards and continuing to be recognized at both the regional and national levels.”

There are over 1,500 Relay For Life events across the nation, and behind every Relay For Life event are many talented, determined, and extraordinary individuals who go above and beyond to support the American Cancer Society’s mission. Volunteers lend their time, talents, and generosity to the Relay For Life movement.

Through the American Cancer Society’s nearly 75 years of research investiment, patients now have more treatment strategies, screening tools and preventative measures to choose from during his/her battle with cancer.

As the largest private not-for-profit, non-governmental funder of cancer research in the US, they’ve played a role in many major cancer research breakthroughs in the last century.

This year’s NACS Relay for Life Walk will be Saturday, May 6, 2023, at Carroll Middle School. For more information, visit http://relayforlife.org/nacschargersfightingcancerin.