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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

The Chilton County Relay For Life Queens helped spread Christmas cheer at Children’s of Alabama through recent activities.

The queens held a toy drive and then decorated a Christmas tree for children at the hospital.

“The toy drive was amazing,” pageant coordinator Sunny Mays said. “We got probably close to 200 gifts.”

She said the group was thankful to everyone who gave, and especially thankful to the Chilton County High School SGA, Encore Physical Therapy staff and patients, the Swedish Festival Queens and National Extraordinary Miss Alabama Gina Jones.

Mays said the community has always been supportive of the queens’ toy drives.

The hope is that the gifts will bring some joy to children who will be in the hospital at Christmas. Hospital staff will distribute the gifts to the children closer to the holiday.

“We had the honor of being able to decorate a tree for their Christmas Ball fundraiser,” Mays said.

The Relay Queens were able to deliver the gifts to Children’s and put them under their tree.

A princess theme was chosen for the tree using tiaras, princess ornaments and scepters.

During the Christmas Ball fundraiser, which was held virtually this year, groups bid on trees to raise money for the hospital.

The trees will be displayed throughout the hospital, and Mays asked that the one the Relay Queens decorated be displayed in the oncology department for children with cancer, if at all possible.

Mays said it was good to be able to do more this year, after the coronavirus pandemic canceled usual activities for the queens last year.

The Chilton County Relay For Life Pageant is Relay for Life fundraiser of West End Baptist Church.