I probably sound like a broken record, but I hope many of you are planning to participate in The Mountain Press’ first Holiday of Hope pageant to benefit Relay For Life.

The Nov. 6 deadline for registering for the pageant is nearing, and while we have several contestants registered in various categories, we would appreciate many more to participate in the contest and ensure a full day of fun Nov. 21 at Tennessee Shindig in Pigeon Forge.

As I’ve mentioned before, I stole this idea for a pageant from a fundraiser held in my hometown. They seemed to have a lot of success with it and had a lot of fun doing it.

It will be a simple pageant. There are no interviews, wardrobe changes or talent competitions. There’s less stress for the contestants, and it’s really all about having fun and supporting the American Cancer Society anyway.

We will be holding an informational meeting from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at the newspaper office. Any time during those three hours you can come by to pick up forms, turn in forms and registration fees, learn the pattern of the beauty walk and ask any questions you may have about the pageant.

We have categories for girls from infant all the way to 25 years old, and for boys infant to 3 years old. Plus a special category for cancer survivors age 25 and up.

I’m especially excited about the survivor’s category. I’ve had calls from a 91-year-old woman who is a cancer survivor interested in being in the pageant, as well as a woman coming all the way from Kentucky to participate.

By the way, the entry fee is waived for all cancer survivors, no matter which age division they enter.

Pageant participants and spectators alike we will have the opportunity to win several prizes donated from area attractions. We will also have Kristi Thomas of Thomas Photography on hand to take portraits. The winners in each category will also be photographed for publication in The Mountain Press.

I guess I’m getting a little — OK, a lot — anxious. This is the first big fundraiser I’ve helped plan and I truly want it to do well — not for me, but for all the people it can help.

All of the proceeds will go to the Sevier County Relay For Life, which is set to kick off the 2010 fundraising season on Tuesday. The kickoff will be held at 6 p.m. at Tennessee State Bank’s main office in Pigeon Forge and will start a year of celebrating the 25th birthday of Relay For Life.

Birthdays, specifically helping “create a world with more birthdays,” is the current goal of the American Cancer Society.

“Every day more people are joining the movement to create a world with more birthdays,” the Web site morebirthdays.com states. “Our strength and commitment fuels the movement’s growth, inspires cancer survivors, and reminds us all how special one more candle, one more cake, and one more celebration with the people we love truly is.”

I wish I had been able to see my Mema have more birthdays, as well as my Uncle Sonny. My Aunt Ruby was a breast cancer survivor and was gifted with more birthdays thanks to her treatments. My mother, thank God, is here to celebrate more birthdays after she too was treated for breast cancer.

I hope my father, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews will also have as many birthdays as they can without the word cancer ever coming from their doctors’ lips.

That’s why I’m involved in Relay and why I’m anxious for the Holiday of Hope pageant to be a success. I have hope that the work we do with Relay will continue to help fund research to treat and cure cancer. To give many more people many more birthdays.

Think about getting involved in Relay For Life. It’s open to anyone who wishes to form a team, whether it be a group of family members, church members, co-workers, etc.

So stop by the Relay For Life kickoff on Tuesday, I’ll be there with forms, or come by the office between 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. Oct. 26. I’ll be glad to answer any questions you have about Relay or the Holiday of Hope pageant.

— Gail Crutchfield is the community editor of The Mountain Press. Call 428-0748, ext. 215, or e-mail to gcrutchfield@themountainpress.com.