VIRGINIA BEACH
May the best waver win.
Liberty Tax Service will host its second "Wave Goodbye to Cancer" competition Saturday.
All are invited to dress in Liberty Tax garb and wave to passers-by in front of the company's corporate headquarters. Mystery judges, along with mascots, including "Rip Tide" from the Norfolk Tides' baseball team, will determine the $1,000 prize winner.
The waving marathon will mimic the attention-grabbing Liberty Tax employees dressed in Statue of Liberty costumes who usually dance outside local franchises during tax season.
Martha O'Gorman, chief marketing officer, had some suggestions for contestants. Crazy dance moves and cartwheels might garner some brownie points, she noted.
"Do anything that will set you apart," she said. "Be as outrageous as possible."
There's no cost to participate and there will be free food and festivities, including a DJ and yard sale. Fire trucks, karate demonstrations and a bounce house will entertain children.
Donations and vendor fees will help the Liberty Tax Relay for Life team raise money for the American Cancer Society. Relay for Life is the nonprofit organization's signature fundraiser, said Amanda Linnertz, local cancer society Relay specialist. Last year, Virginia Beach teams raised almost $400,000 to support cancer programs and research.
The Liberty Tax Relay for Life team will be one of about 150 to participate in the June 7 all-night walk at Landstown High School. The event will celebrate cancer victims and survivors as well as recognize the fundraising efforts.
"Liberty Tax has a phenomenal team motivated by Nina's inspirational story," she said.
Nina Cunningham was a member of Liberty's relay team before she died in 2012 following a five-month battle with ovarian cancer. The team is now named "Nina's Birds" in honor of their colleague's love for cockatiels. Jake Vinluan, one of "the Birds" and organizer of Saturday's event, said Cunningham got him involved in Relay for Life before she was diagnosed with cancer.
"Now, it's personal," he said. "Nina was always happy and had a smile on her face."
Vinluan offered advice for wavers: "We want to see high energy, big smiles and moves like a dancing machine."
Last year, the team raised about $35,000 and hopes to increase that amount to $50,000, O'Gorman said.
O'Gorman said all the fun will be in memory of Cunningham.
"We want to keep her in our heart always," she said. "We... have made it a mission to do our part to wave goodbye to this terrible disease."
Cindy Butler Focke, butler496@aol.com