Relay cancelled, to be rescheduled

The Pike County Relay for Life was cancelled Saturday morning due to forecasts of lightening and thunderstorms throughout the day. Organizers will meet in the coming week and announce the new date for the annual event. This year’s Relay was planned for 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 18 instead of overnight like past events. It will feature the Survivor Lap, Caregiver Walk, several bands and the ever-popular Womanless Beauty Pageant.’Pike County Relay is a family event that has something for all ages. We’ll have bounce houses and inflatable slides, including a 24-foot slide adults can enjoy, games, hula hoop contests, bands with music all day and much more,’ said organizer Ed Penland. ‘We’ll have all kinds of food from barbecue to funnel cakes. We really want to encourage everyone in the community to come out through the day.’ This year’s goal for Pike County Relay for Life is to raise $37,500. So far, 25 teams have volunteered to help reach the goal. ’We have tremendous support from the school system and local businesses,’ said Penland. ‘This is our first year to hold Relay on a Saturday. With hours from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. that gives us plenty of time for entertainment and fellowship while we raise money for this great charity.’The ACS uses funds raised from community Relay events to support research, patient services, early detection, treatment and education. Recently a Williamson family benefitted from the ACS’s Hope Lodge in Atlanta. Funds from previous Relay for Life events in part fund the Hope Lodge which provides free temporary housing for cancer patients undergoing radiation and other treatments at the nearby Emory hospital. Lewis Herring and his wife of 45 years stayed there as he battled cancer in his brain, lung and kidney area. The Herrings share their battle with cancer on page B? of this week’s Journal Reporter. They say it’s important for everyone to contribute to Relay for Life and other support groups for those fighting cancer. ’Relay For Life is more than just a fundraiser. It’s a life-changing experience. At Relay, every person in the community has a chance to celebrate, remember and fight back. Every person who takes part joins others around the globe as part of this worldwide movement to end cancer,’ said Relay community manager Deidre Anderson. ‘Everyone’s reason to Relay is as unique as their own personal story. At Relay, you can find healing, comfort, and support from others who have faced cancer or who have lost a loved one to the disease.’For information go to relayforlife.org.