Photo/Michele Hester Bill Sexton is caught off guard when he arrives at the Masonic Lodge Friday morning to find "Sheriff" Pam Hamalainen holding a warrant for his arrest. Rather than accepting his fate in the slammer, Sexton opened his wallet, pulled out a $50 bill and said, "Arrest cancer instead." The Chamber's Jail and Bail raised more than $1,200 for The American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, one of the largest fundraisers in the world. Photo/Michele Hester "Deputies" Kim Turner and Casey Robinson take Etowah Water and Sewer Authority General Manager Brooke Anderson into custody Friday. Jail and Bail benefits Relay for Life, which will be held Friday night at the Dawson County High School track.

Pam Hamalainen waited patiently Friday morning, as her 10 a.m. appointment strolled into the office a half an hour late, apologizing for the indiscretion.

"That's OK. This won't take long," she said, taking the handcuffs from her back pocket and slapping them around the wrists of Dawson County Manager Kevin Tanner.

"I have a warrant out for your arrest," she said.

Tanner was one of dozens of local residents taken into custody last Friday in an effort to "arrest cancer" during the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce's annual Jail and Bail fundraiser to benefit Relay for Life.

With a revolver in hand, "Sheriff" Pam walked a handcuffed Tanner through the streets of Dawsonville and into a cell at the Historic Jail. There he met up with recently arrested Peter Hill, of Hill Design Architect Associates, who was already on the phone with friends asking them to contribute to the cause and his release.

"I'm not leaving until I collect $200," said Hill, who arrived at the chamber office with a list of contacts he planned to call. He also took up a collection at the office before being hauled to jail.

By the end of the day, the chamber had raised more than $1,200 for Relay for Life, which will be held this Friday night at the Dawson County High School track.

Designed to celebrate survivorship and raise money for cancer research, The American Cancer Society's Relay for Life has grown to be one of the largest fundraisers in the world.

Last year in Dawson County alone, Relay for Life volunteer teams raised more than $85,000, which will help fund American Cancer Society cancer research programs.

For the past 11 years, Dawson County has exalted survivorship and saluted those who succumbed to cancer with a Relay for Life celebration.

Relay for Life teams will begin setting up their "County Affair" themed campsites early Friday to kick off an overnight celebration of survivorship in Dawson County. Throughout the evening, team members will take turns walking around the track to honor those who are winning the battle against cancer.

"This year, our staff has dedicated our efforts to our wonderful boss and friend, Linda Williams (who is a cancer survivor)," Hamalainen said. "We will continue our fight against cancer with fundraisers and the wonderful people of Dawson County. We honor our survivors and hold the memory of those we lost close to our hearts."

As day fades to night, luminaries will be lit to honor those who have lost their fight and hundreds of luminaries will encircle the Dawson County High School track, where Relay for Life is being held this year.

"By using the theme 'A County Affair,' we hope to bring in more of the public to take advantage of the food, activities and things on sale at the actual event," said American Cancer Society spokeswoman Rena Pendley. "We hope to attract people from all walks of life, who are interested in uniting in the effort to fight cancer."

E-mail Michele Hester at michele@dawsonnews.com.

Originally published Wednesday, May 7, 2008