A message on the back of the mayor’s shirt aptly captured the goal of Tuesday’s City of Athens Relay For Life Celebrity Waiter Night.

Steven Davis rolled into Applebee’s Restaurant in Athens Tuesday night for a bite to eat before heading home. He was surprised to learn the man drawing beer behind the bar was Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks.

The mayor wasn’t moonlighting to augment his pay, he was one of several celebrity waiters collecting tip money for the American Cancer Society.

Davis said he didn’t know the event was going on when he stopped by for dinner but he said cancer has touched his own life, just like it has touched the lives of most of us.

Davis moved to North Alabama from Panama City, Fla., to be nearer his father, Larry Davis of the Clements community, who has cancer. Young Davis probably left a good tip as a result of the effort by the City of Athens Relay For Life Celebrity Waiters Night.

Earnings

The waiters made a decent haul on the night, earning $2,075 in tips for the American Cancer Society, city spokeswoman Holly Hollman said. The team raised about $1,800 last year, she said.

Councilman Jimmy Gill, who raised $510, claimed top fundraiser bragging rights for the second-consecutive year, Hollman said. Marks took second place at $410.

Here’s what other waiters collected:

Athens City Councilman Chris Seibert — $283

Athens City Councilman Joseph Cannon — $280

TVA employee and local actor Frank Travis — $276

Limestone County Circuit Court Clerk Brad Curnutt — $160

Athens Fire Chief Tony Kirk — $90

Athens City Schools Executive Director Terry Roller — $66

Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson and Athens-Limestone Hospital Chief Executive Officer Kelli Powers served as celebrity greeters for the event.

Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely, who rarely misses a fundraising event, had planned to attend but was called away on a case.