Fundraising for the American Cancer Society

On April 1, 2017, Clark County Relay for Life hosted its annual "Celebrity Waiter" fundraiser for the American Cancer Society at the Walker Conference Center on the campus of Ouachita Baptist University. Taylor volunteered to be a "celebrity" waiter this year, while Don and Terri recruited others to help take up the fight against cancer.

Nine Clark County Relay for Life teams participated in waiting on 10+ tables. Taylor was part of the "Beauties Against The Beast" team, along with Derek Phillips and Elizabeth Gabbard (two "A" list Clark County celebrities, whether they're waiting tables or not). 

This year's theme was "movies." The CLF table chose the movie Greater, which honors the life of Brandon Burlsworth, the walk-on turned 1st team All-American offensive lineman for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks from 1994-1998. Just 11 days after being taken in the third round (63rd overall) of the 1999 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts, Burlsworth tragically died in a car wreck on his way home from Fayetteville to Harrison. 

After his death, friends and family established the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation to support the physical and spiritual needs of children, in particular those who have limited opportunities. The foundation encourages a strong faith, character and sportsmanship, developing positive values, and a life pattern that would exemplify "Doing It The Burls Way." You can donate to the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation by clicking here.

At the end of the night, the Celebrity Waiter event raised over $6,000 for the American Cancer Society in its fight against cancer. So many people were responsible for making this event a huge success.

The date of the event coincidentally was the five year anniversary of the motorcycle incident of the coach who signed the above football. If you look closely at the "Ode to the Razorbacks" vinyl record, one of the players is wearing #12. He was the first and only player to wear the number since 1950. The team's only other retired number is Burlsworth's #77, which the school retired on the first home game after his death in 1999.

The program above was for the Arkansas vs. Kentucky game on October 3, 1998 in War Memorial Stadium. Pictured above is Anthony Lucas, who caught 6 passes for 149 yards in the game. The Hogs won 27-20 after a Tim Couch pass fell incomplete on 4th and goal at the end of regulation. Burlsworth led the Hogs' offensive line as the team rushed for 132 yards on 32 carries. Couch was taken with the 1st overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns.

Pictured above from left to right are Hailey O'Neal, Taylor, and Morgan Queen. The two young ladies did an outstanding job helping Taylor with his table.

Our table won the 2017 Celebrity of the Year Runner up.

These are all of the participants in the 2017 Clark County Relay for Life "Celebrity Waiter" event. All of their hard work made it a successful evening.

According to the American Cancer Society, 1,688,780 new cancer cases and 600,920 cancer deaths are estimated to occur in 2017. That is approximately 4,630 new cases and and 1,650 deaths per day. In Arkansas alone, there are an estimated 16,080 new cancer cases expected to occur in 2017, and 6,800 deaths. You can access other important cancer information for Arkansas by clicking here. For more information about different types of cancer, click here. If you're interested in honoring a survivor or a loved one lost to cancer, or interested in helping save lives of people in your local community and elsewhere, click here. If you're interested in donating to the American Cancer Society in their fight against cancer, click here.