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By Jed Blackwell
Editor
Relay University, the yearly planning session for Relay for Life, is sometimes described as something of a pep rally.
This year, District One has more than usual to cheer about.
District One Superintendent Dr. Jimmy Littlefield was named Superintendent of the Year for the South Carolina and the South Atlantic regions at the meeting. It’s an honor that Littlefield said reflects on the community.
“The award reflects not only on our school community but on the North Spartanburg community as well.”
The honors were among several brought home by District One. Litlefield said the District was also honored for its outstanding participation.
“We had 100 percent participation, which means that our district was recognized as one of the few in the state that had all its schools participating. The North Spartanburg Relay was also honored as one of the top per-capita givers,” he said.
Littlefield was impressed by his first time at Relay University.
“It was the first time I’ve been,” he said. “It’s really a celebration of all those people who have survived, and it’s a way to prepare for the new relay season. It’s like a big pep rally. They give you noise makers, they want you to get excited. The caregivers and survivors are excited, of course. It’s very emotional, because you have people who are still alive, people who are cancer-free, who want to continue to raise funds for research and continue to fight.”
Littlefield said the event hit home.
“It was a pretty intense 24-hours,” he said of the educational and training session. “But to see those cancer survivors and their caregivers was really gratifiying to me.”
District One schools are noted for their participation in Relay for Life activities, a fact that Littlefield stressed.
“Cancer has touched so many lives in our district,” he said. “We have a number of faculty and staff members who have either battled cancer or seen a close family member battle cancer. It’s touched parents, students and administrators all over the district. I think that’s one reason our folks have embraced Relay for Life and rallied for the cause.”
Littlefield said the schools were competitive with each other in their fundraising activities.
“I know that some teams have already met for next year,” he said. “They’re planning some different things already.”
Littlefield was quick to give the credit for the awards to everyone who assists with the Relay for Life effort.
“Everyone was involved,” he said. “Civic organizations, churches, schools - it was a community-wide event. It’s about everyone pulling together for a great event, a great fundraiser, as well as probably one of the best causes you could give your money to.
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