A time for thanks and to remember… Saturday is Carter County’s Relay for Life in downtown Elizabethton
Published 1:05 am Friday, September 27, 2019
BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR STAFF
“Cancer isn’t stopping. So there’s always a reason to keep fighting. There’s always a reason to give. There’s always a reason to want to be involved.” – Nan (a cancer survivor)
In life, there are words that we teach children are bad to say but there is a universal word called cancer that is one of the most evil words there are but thanks to efforts like the Relay for Life, the survival rates continue to rise with the discovery of new ways to help people overcome and defeat cancer which affects them individually and as a family.
For that reason, Saturday is a very important day in downtown Elizabethton as teams that have been working extremely hard to raise money for the American Cancer Society as part of community’s efforts throughout the country to completely defeat cancer in their hometowns through raising funds through Relay for Life events throughout the United States.
According to Carter County’s Relay for Life chairman Nan Carver, Saturday will be a special time to be thankful for survivors and remember those who lost their battle with the disease.
Events start at 3 pm as a fire truck carrying Carter County Mayor Rusty Barnett and Court Clerk Johnny Blankenship will come through town to kick off the festivities.
Teams that have been participating will be on hand selling food items throughout the afternoon in an effort to continue raising money while there will be games for the children as well as a bouncy house.
Groups will be on hand to perform music beginning at 3:30 pm with Stemwinder. At 4:30 pm, Big Dan of Big Dan’s BBQ will be providing entertainment until 5 pm.
John and Friends take the stage from 5 to 6 pm followed by a very special event as the Survivor Walk for cancer survivors will begin at 6:30 pm.
At 7 pm, the Jerry Pierce Band will entertain those on hand until 8:15 pm. Big Dan will also have an outdoor concert in front of his restaurant at 7 pm.
Roby Jane Meadows will be the featured harpist for the Luminary Service which starts at 8:30 pm.
Everyone is invited to come out and support the Relay for Life effort in Carter County and help the teams continue to raise additional funds.
Not only is the Relay for Life for celebrating survivors and remembering family members who have lost their battle, but the money raised also
helps give cancer patients and their families the resources they need, like free rides to chemo, free places to stay near hospitals, and a live 24/7 helpline for answers and support according to the Relay for Life website.
