A team of Rosewood Services Inc. employees raised nearly $1,500 during this summer’s Barton County Relay For Life event, which was held June 8 at the Barton County courthouse square in downtown Great Bend. It was the first year that Rosewood formed a team, which was cause for special recognition by Barton County Relay For Life. Organization representatives Kandi Wolf and Mariann Shook presented a certificate of appreciation to Heart Strong team members on June 28, fittingly at the Rosewood Memorial Garden.
“We think it’s always exciting to have new teams join in Barton County Relay For Life,” said Wolf, Barton County’s team development chair. “Rosewood’s team members did a great job and we are grateful for their support. We felt it was important that they be recognized for their efforts.”
 Heart Strong raised $1,418, with team captain Rebekah Willison bringing in $224 as the top individual fundraiser for the team. To generate proceeds for the cause, Heart Strong held a four-night raffle drawing at Walnut Bowl where half of the money raised each night went to one winner and the other half to Relay For Life. During the Spring Expo, the team raised money by hosting children’s games with prizes. At the Relay, a 50-cents-a-try pop toss raised additional money with 2-liter bottles of soda, which were used as prizes, donated by Rosewood employees and Coca-Cola. Additionally, the team held a Premier Jewelry Party and donated 30 percent of the proceeds to Relay For Life, and it sold baked goods to raise money.
Heart Strong developed a “Toy Story” décor for its booth and luminaries, in connection to the Relay’s Walt Disney theme this year.