Fun at the festival: St. Mark’s raises funds for Relay with music, kids and games

St. Mark’s United Methodist Church Festival for a Cure brought Relay for Life to Louisville.

Youth leader Tim Self said the May 17 event cleared about $400 after expenses.

“It was a first time event. We built a stage, did rentals and laid the groundwork for future Festivals for a Cure that we want to do in the community,” he said. “It turned out almost like a mini-Relay.”

It was St. Mark’s first attempt at having a festival, said Self.

Louisville doesn’t have a strong delegation of representatives in the Blount County Relay for Life, which raises money for cancer research, said Self. “We saw it as an opportunity to have a community event that didn’t just raise money but created advocacy for the purpose of finding a cure for cancer.”

The organizers had a line up of bands, and arts and crafts and a plethoria of children’s activities. There were demonstrations by area Boy Scout troops on campfire cooking.

Self praised the co-chairs for the event, Jerilyn Jones and Nick Vineyard. “They both just graduated from high school and were in charge of the event,” Self said.