"This is our second year participating in Relay for Life and our staff has voted to make this an annual event due to so many of the staff and students at J. W. Dobbs whose lives have been affected by cancer. I shared my mother’s story with the students in October 2014 and was approached by students, staff, and families who knew someone who either lost their fight with cancer, are in remission, or are in the fight of their lives at the moment and appreciated our efforts. I would like our students to understand how blessed they are. There are children around the globe who would love the opportunity to attend school each day, but they cannot because they are too ill because of this awful disease. I want them to look in the face of Marquis Smith, their peer, who will not allow leukemia to prevent him from enjoying his life. I want my students to understand that when they are receiving instruction each day, their teachers are preparing them to be the next generation of medical personnel and science researchers who WILL find the cure for cancer. They are indeed our HOPE for the future."​