By Sarah Kuper
Headed into spring break of her senior year, Carlton Cooper had one thing on her mind – Mountain Brook’s Relay for Life.
On April 8, students, faculty and community members will gather on the high school field to celebrate survivors, honor victims and support caregivers.
As the event’s director for the high school, Cooper said she still has many details to care for, but she is happy to be a catalyst for finding a cure for cancer.
“I love relay. I love its purpose,” she said. “Cancer touches all of us. My sister-in-law’s mom had cancer, our housekeeper passed away from cancer two years ago, so it is near and dear to my heart.”
Cooper’s older brother worked on the Relay for Life when he was a high school senior, so she said she’s always known and understood the importance of the event.
Between a survivors’ honorary lap around the track and the recognition of caregivers, Cooper said she loves the symbolism behind Relay for Life, even though organizers have had to make a few changes to tradition.
“We are not doing sky lanterns this year, which was one of my favorite parts but it is a fire hazard,” she said. “Instead we have come up with a balloon release. One color will be ‘in honor of,’ another color will be ‘in memory of;’ it should be pretty neat.”
Local and student bands will entertain attendees and give the evening a celebratory feel.
Cooper said many students at the high school have been actively helping and fundraising for months, but she said the involvement has been much broader than just the high school.
“The junior high is involved, elementary students are doing their part and, of course, businesses.”
Throughout the weeks leading up to the relay, restaurants and businesses around Mountain Brook have held percent nights, during which a percentage of sales have gone toward Mountain Brook Relay for Life.
This year’s theme for the event is “Paint the Town Purple.”
“We are trying to find ways for our school and local businesses to color their world purple to raise awareness for cancer,” Cooper said.
In a tight-knit community like Mountain Brook, Cooper said, the impact of Relay for Life is tangible.
“It shows me how much our community helps each other out no matter what we need, especially if young people are involved,” she said
The Mountain Brook Relay for Life has a $200,000 goal this year.
Cooper said she expects all the student teams to raise at least $1,000 before April 8, and the school recently concluded a “10 in 10” campaign, during which it raised $10,000 in 10 days.
Cooper plans to attend the University of Alabama in the fall and major in elementary education.
To register or donate to the Mountain Brook Relay for Life, visit relay.org/birmingham