NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick.
At left, Jason McGuirk, Jess McGuirk and children, Truman, 18 months and Isla, 4 months, enjoy the festivities at the Relay for Life cancer fundraiser Friday at Riverside Park in New Smyrna Beach. S.E. Volusia Chamber of Commerce President Sue Thomas, above, with NSB City Commissioner Jack Grasty and Community Redevelopment Agency Chairwoman Linda DeBorde, also catch the festivities.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Sure, the theme of the 2010 Relay for Life was "Rock the Cure." But it was really about the vitality of the community. Jason McGuirk, 37, knows a lot about community. He owns the Dairy Queen on U.S. 1 and is a member of the New Smyrna Beach Planning Board. He and his wife, Jess, 29, big-time supporters of the event, were on hand Friday with their two children, Truman, 18 months old, and Isla, 4 months old.
For the last six years, have sponsored the team "Rock and Rollers."
The McGuirks fed some 300 people under a big tent Friday night, most of them cancer survivors and volunteers.
"It's phenomenal -- just the support of the community," McGuirk said. "It's impressive what the community can do. It's absolutely amazing the commitment for this event."
Jess McGuirk added, "It's indicative of how special New Smyrna Beach can be."
'It's indicative of how special New Smyrna Beach can be.'
-- Jess McGuirk
Even with some 3,000 people attending throughout the course of a 24-hour period between Friday and into Saturday, seemingly everyone knew somebody else at the fund-raising extravaganza.
Mayor Adam Barringer was impressed with the large gathering, stating in part in his welcoming comments to the large crowd earlier Friday that "New Smyrna Beach knows how to put unity in community."
The large assemblage of people came as no surprise to Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce President Sue Thomas.
"This is community supporting community," Williams said. "This is truly why we live here."
City Commissioner Jack Grasty, who has dealt with 16 skin cancer surgeries, added,"It's awesome."
NSBNEWS.net photo by Henry Frederick.
Deb Denys, candidate for the Volusia County Council, attended the Relay for Life fundraiser on Friday night.
Deborah Denys of New Smyrna Beach, former school board member who is running for a seat on the Volusia County Council, echoed the McGuirks: "It's a wonderful show of support for our community.