MASON — Farmers Bank of Mason has joined forces with Wahama High School art students to raise money for this year’s Mason County Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society.

The students have created more than 40 ceramic bowls to be auctioned off. Each is a unique, hand-crafted work of art. Accompanying the auction will be a soup sale featuring soups homemade by bank employees. The event will be 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27 at the Farmers Bank of Mason.

Brenda Darst, Farmers Bank customer service representative, got the inspiration for the fundraiser after reading a newspaper article about a similar project in the Huntington area.

“Our foyer has an attractive lighted display case. We’ve used it to display the works of Wahama students previously, and we’ve also held soup benefits in the past. It just seemed natural to combine the two,” Darst said.

The bank worked with Wahama art instructor Susan Parrish to organize the event, providing the raw materials for the bowls.

“Friends and family who come to view the artwork sometimes get emotional when they see how beautiful it is,” Parrish said, noting that each of the bowls has been fired and glazed in such a way that they are non-toxic and may be used as serving bowls if desired.

While details are still not final, several of the bowls are now on display, and all will be auctioned on the day of the fundraiser.

“We offered to spilt the proceeds with the art department, but the students declined, saying they want all the money to go to the Relay to help and support people with cancer,” said Darst, who also serves as co-chair of the survivor committee of the organization along with Kortney Engle.

The 2009 Relay for Life will be May 16 at the Mason County Fairgrounds.