By Bill Oliver
Commerce, TX – Organizers of the 4th Relay For Life were hoping to walk the new track at Texas A&M University-Commerce Memorial Stadium. The forecast of rain Friday afternoon prompted officials to move the event inside to the A&M-Commerce Fieldhouse. The cancellation occured following a series of tornado warnings from Dallas to the west. The event was cancelled early enough to allow participants enough time to return home.
While the new A&M-Commerce track did not host Relay For Life, the improvements will be enjoyed by Special Olympians and participants in upcoming UIL and Lone Star Conference track competitions.
According to information from the Mansfield based project consultant, a 400 meter track with steeplechase totaling 17,000 square feet was part of the $1.1 million dollar upgrade of Memorial Stadium.
40 Relay for Life teams, totaling nearly 400 walkers, were scheduled to walk Friday night and Saturday morning raising money for the American Cancer Society. Groups of friends, co-workers on and off campus, and organizations around the area had gathered. As of Friday morning, the local Relay for Life website showed over $13,000 dollars has been raised with more still to be reported.