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Courtesy photo Winds and rain delayed Tanglewood's luminary event for their Relay for Life from the scheduled Feb. 13 to Feb. 17. A team of at least 30 people set up the display Sunday.

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published: Wednesday, February 20, 2013

'Autumn' and the weather

By NEIL SIMPSON

Special to the News-Sun

SEBRING - No matter how well an event is planned, mother nature can always take control. This year's Tanglewood Luminary event was scheduled for Feb. 13. The winds picked up and rain was forecast so the display of more than 1,000 luminaries (a candle in a bag) was postponed until Feb. 17. However, guest speaker Autumn Egan, from Cornerstone Hospice. was on hand Feb. 13 to address a crowd of well over 100 Tanglewood folk who came to learn more about the "Five Wishes". This document is a guide that allows people to pre-plan for their emotional and medical needs when they are no longer able to make all decisions for themselves.

Event chairman Tom McKeever informed those in attendance that during the seven years of Tanglewood's Luminary program 8,590 bags have been filled, placed around the Tanglewood clubhouse and lit in honor of loved ones. This year, the sale of luminaries generated $3,905 for cancer research.

During the years, we have heard from a variety of speakers. In 2007, Abe Gold and Al Zwerk of Tanglewood spoke about their fight with cancer. At the second luminary event, a doctor from Atlanta told us how important it is to have events such as Tanglewood's that are dedicated to cancer research. A brain cancer survivor from Clearwater addressed the crowd in 2009 and the following year, Dr. Pankaj Patel, one of the major sponsors of the Tanglewood Residents' Cancer Benefit, talked about numerous types of cancer and their detection. A panel of Tanglewood neighbors spoke in 2011 about working with friends, family and neighbors who are dealing with cancer. Last year, Cindi Crisci of the American Cancer Society told her story of the discovery of her cancer and her journey with the disease.

A team of at least 30 volunteers was out in the cool windy weather on Sunday afternoon to fill, place and light the luminaries. The winds died down in the evening and the luminaries made for an impressive sight as residents walked, rode in golf carts or drove their cars around the half mile circle to view the tributes to family, friends and neighbors.