It has just been a little more than two weeks ago that Kay Huff underwent a double mastectomy to fight breast cancer.

On Friday evening, however, she was on hand at the Greene County Relay for Life and to help kick off the event with her fellow cancer survivors.

"Determination," Huff said was what brought her to the Greeneville Middle School Track for the annual community fundraiser to benefit the American Cancer Society.

"It was just something that I felt like I needed to do," she added, choking back tears.

On Sunday afternoon, officials reported that more than $124,000 has been raised to date through this year's fundraising efforts by the local Relay teams.

On the night of the Relay alone, $12,849 was turned in, bringing the current fundraising amount for this year to $124,441, according to Nikki Sentelle, treasurer of the Relay's fundraising committee.

There were 21 teams that participated in this year's Relay for Life. Of those, the American Greetings team was the top fundraiser, netting more than $15,500 in their effort, Sentelle said.

Fundraising for this year's final contribution from Greene County to the American Cancer Society will continue until mid-August, according to Tom DuBois, who co-chaired this year's Relay fundraising efforts with Freda Morgan.

DuBois said he is hopeful that the final fundraising tally at that time will bring them closer to their goal of $140,000.

"The economy has definitely been affecting things (this year), but we were able to get up there about where we were after the Relay last year," DuBois said.

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A long-time teaching assistant at Glenwood Elementary School, Huff learned in early January that she was suffering from breast cancer.

Because of the size of the tumor, her doctors immediately began a series of chemotherapy treatments in order to reduce the size of the tumor before she underwent surgery.

Huff completed chemotherapy in May and on June 5, she had both breasts removed.

Instead of having just the affected breast removed, Huff said she decided to undergo a double mastectomy during the same surgery.

"I didn't want to ever have to go through it again," she explained.

Despite remaining sore from her surgery, Huff said that she is doing remarkably well.

"I've been blessed," she said. "I've had the best response I could possibily have to the chemotherapy."

No residual cancer has been found, and her doctors are optimistic about her future prognosis, she said. As further precaution, though, she continues herceptin treatment and will begin radiation treatment soon.

One of Huff's daughters is a teacher at Greeneville Middle School and is involved with the school's Relay for Life team.

"After I was diagnosed with cancer, they really went all out to raise money for the Relay for Life," Huff said.

Huff was touched so deeply by the GMS team's efforts, she said she felt especially driven to attend the Relay.

"I didn't make the full lap around. I made it about three-fourths of the way," she said. "But I felt like I needed to be there."

Huff was joined in the first lap of the Relay by more than 200 cancer survivors.

The second lap of the event was completed by an even larger number of individuals who are - or have been - a caregiver to a cancer patient.

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Hundreds of luminaria bags lined the track, each labeled the name of a cancer victim who has battled the disease. Many bags were designated in honor of a special cancer survivors. Others memorialized a person who had lost their battle with cancer.

After sunset, each candle was lit and a special "Ceremony of Hope" was held, featuring a lone bagpiper who walked around the track playing "Amazing Grace."

One person remembered this year with a luminaria bag was Ray Renner, Jr., who died last September after a courageous fight against cancer.

His wife, Janet, was on hand at the Relay Friday evening to pay special recognition to her beloved late husband.

"I really miss him," she said as she was walking along the track looking at the luminaria bags.

For the past few years, she had attended the annual Relay event with Ray as he continued his battle against cancer.

"He came last year even though he didn't feel much like it," she said.

Unfortunately, it was not only spouses who were on hand remembering lost loves at the Relay. There were also many friends, neighbors, brothers, sisters, children and grandchildren who had lost loved ones to cancer.

Wilt Chapman and his wife Lisa were attending their first Relay for Life event, along with their children, Brittany and Wilton, Jr.

He had lost his father, Dr. Walter Chapman, during the past year to cancer. Dr. Chapman was the first board-certified orthopaedic surgeon to open a medical practice in Greeneville in 1974. He lost his battle with cancer in February.

Teresa Key not only recently lost her sister to cancer, but she is herself a cancer survivor "This is my first Relay," Key said. "I came to walk the Survivor's Lap for me - and to walk another lap for my sister."