Some volunteers are changing out of uniform and putting on aprons to wait tables and earn tips to help raise funds to fight cancer.

The annual city of Athens Relay for Life Celebrity Waiters Night will be Tuesday, April 29, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Applebee’s in Athens.

Athens High Football Coach Cody Gross will leave spring practice and throw on his apron to work for tips. Athens Firefighter Brinten Barclay, a rookie celebrity waiter, will leave the fire station for a waiter’s station and Athens Police Officer Michael Stainbrook will swap a police uniform for a superhero costume. Stainbrook always dresses as a superhero for the event.

“I can’t wait,” he said. “I will be the Batman Forever version in honor of the late Val Kilmer.”

Kilmer, who died earlier this month, portrayed Batman in 1995. He battled throat cancer between 2014 and 2021.

Another celebrity waiter will earn tips in someone’s memory.

Rookie celebrity waiter Emma Prier, an Ardmore High graduate who is a student at the University of Alabama, will  wait tables in memory of her grandmother, Kathy Cothren. Cothren was a member of the city of Athens Relay for Life Team and a former celebrity waiter. Cothren beat breast cancer but died from her battle with colon cancer. Prier said she will show up and show out in memory of “Maw Maw.”

“I’m going to raise more money than Mayor Marks because that’s what Maw Maw would do,” she said.

Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks is a long-time Celebrity Waiter who has met cancer survivors and caregivers from various states when they stop at Applebee’s while headed home from the beach.

“They happen to stop during our event, and they are always so supportive,” he said. “One couple from Minnesota happened by two years in a row. The competition is fun, but it’s really about supporting each other because we’ve all been impacted by cancer in some way.”

Three other rookie Ronnie are already working to raise money ahead of the event: Athens Florist owner, Matthew Jimmerson and community volunteers, Jackie Jackson and Kay Burlingame.

Jimmerson said he will reach out to all of his friends to ensure he raises the most in tips.

Burlingame, when told last year’s event raised the most ever at $5,000, said, “Oh, we’ll beat that goal this year!”

How to donate

Eat at Applebee’s on April 29 from 5:30 to 8 and tip your Celebrity Waiter.

If you cannot attend, donate to your favorite Ronnie ahead of time. Donations can be made at City Hall in Kim Glaze’s office or mailed to P.O. Box 562, Athens, AL 35612, or given to the waiter. Checks can be made out to City of Athens Relay.