The Moody High School Blue Crew has been a major force behind the Leeds/Moody Relay for Life’s push to raise funds for the American Cancer Society for several years. The team, comprised of approximately 60 students, has worked tirelessly for the past six years to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, to remember loved ones lost to the disease and to fight back against a disease that takes too much.

Terrie Brasher, a science teacher at Moody High School, is the sponsor the Blue Crew. The team started out as part of the Leo Club, a junior Lions Club at MHS, and has since grown into what it is today. When the Leo Club stopped sponsoring the event, it moved on to the Science Club and today any student interested in taking part in the event is welcome to join the team.

“I had so many students approach me and say they really wanted to do Relay that I just opened membership up to everybody,” said Brasher.

“The kids have done a great job,” she said. “The first year or two we raised a little money, but the amount has increased. Last year, we raised over $7,000.”

She added the MHS Blue Crew really gets excited about Relay for Life. The team is involved in a number of different projects including an annual spaghetti dinner, a Bunko tournament in March, spirit nights at Chick-fil-A and a Valentine’s Day matchmaker event at the school. The team also takes part in a Relay event at the school and they sale concessions at the actual Leeds/Moody Relay for Life on May 7, which takes place on the Moody High School campus.

The biggest event of the year is usually the Bunko Tournament. Last year, the team raised over $1,000 at the event.

Brasher said parents are also a big part of the MHS Blue Crew. She said Melissa Fraser has been a huge asset to the team.

“She helps a lot with a variety of things,” she said.

Parents also donate pots of spaghetti, food and time to the MHS Blue Crew. This year’s spaghetti dinner raised over $600.

The Blue Crew also plans on visiting Hope Lodge on the south side of Birmingham.

“It’s a place where people undergoing treatments can come and stay for free,” said Brasher. “They supply the place to stay, but don’t supply food, so we plan on supplying a meal for them on Feburary 23. Students will also sing and play music while at the lodge.”

Brasher said visiting Hope Lodge allows the realities of cancer to really sinks in with students.

“It makes it hit home,” she said.

Brasher said each of the students and parents involved have been touched in one way or another by cancer. She said a couple of her students have had parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents who have lost their battles with cancer.

“Just the fact that we feel like we can make a difference makes us push to do this year after year,” Brasher said. “It may not seem like a lot, but we are doing what we can to make a difference.

“It’s amazing to see all these students so compassionate about Relay for Life. They really want to do what they can. They are really good kids.”

The students put in over 40 to 50 hours preparing for Relay for Life. Their goal is to see how much money they can raise in order to make a difference.

The Leeds/Moody Relay for Life will take place on May 7. Brasher said she would like to remind survivors that they will be holding a survivor dinner and she asks all survivors to contact her or anyone involved in the event to get the information needed to be part of the event.