Rocky Mount , NC – Poyner Spruill proudly sponsored a team made up of employees, friends and family in the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life fundraiser. Thousands by land and two by air helped make the 2010 Nash County Relay for Life a success! A pair of skydivers opened this year’s event on Friday, April 23rd and the fundraising and festivities continued through the night until 12 noon the next day.

Leigh Whitley, office manager, and Melissa Lewis, legal secretary in the Rocky Mount office, headed up the team effort. The Poyner Spruill group raised $5,800 which surpassed their $5,000 goal. The firm also sponsored the Survivor Celebration. The funds are part of the total of nearly $300,000 raised by participants in Nash county to date, all to support the goals of the American Cancer Society.

Poyner Spruill employees came out and enjoyed the event with family, friends, food, and fun. In the wee hours of the morning, they passed the time by participating in games which included line dancing, battle of the sexes (the women won), and a scavenger hunt. Poyner Spruill team members Matthew Lewis and Caroline Whitley were crowned Mr. and Miss Relay for Life at the Kids’ Walk on Saturday morning. Matthew raised over $700.00 and Caroline raised over $500.00.

This was the ninth year that the firm has participated in the Relay. The event was a family affair, with Poyner Spruill spouses and children raising money and walking along with the attorneys and staff. “I am extremely proud of the kids on our team and their effort in raising over 25% of our team total. It is never too soon to begin fighting for a cure, “ said Leigh Whitley, team co-captain.

“Every year I look forward to the Survivor Lap which kicks off the event. Watching hundreds of survivors of all ages pass by our campsite is an inspiration to keep striving for a cure. The strength of survivors inspires others to continue to fight.“ said Melissa Lewis, team co-captain.

The Relay for Life is a fun-filled overnight activity that mobilizes communities across the country to celebrate survivorship of cancer, remember those who lost their lives to cancer, and raise money for the fight against the disease. More than 20 years ago, one man took it upon himself to raise money to support the efforts of the American Cancer Society. Today, more than three million Americans participate in the Relay events nationwide.