While construction takes place at LaPorte Track, the Carter County Relay For Life was able to find a perfect alternate for 2016.
Hundreds descended to Brown Childress Stadium on the T.A. Dugger campus Friday to participate in a timeless tradition of celebrating cancer survivors and working towards finding a cure for the disease.
As the evening heat glistened on the track, attendees were scattered throughout, showing love and compassion for one another.
Showing compassion is something that comes natural for Sherry Shook.
Shook, a chemotherapy nurse, works in the Johnson City but was asked to sing the National Anthem at the beginning of Friday’s event. Singing doesn’t deter the nurse, who happens do it quite often.
“I’m basically known as the singing chemo nurse,” Shook said with a laugh. “I sing in the chemo room to entertain my patients and I’m a social butterfly, too, so this was great. I think it was through a patient or a coworker that referred me to sing here this evening.”
Shook’s son, Thomas Todd Decker, was diagnosed with leukemia and lymphoma in 1987 and went through three years of chemotherapy, which propelled Shook into her current position.
Along with Shook, citizens were welcomed by dance performances by Watts Dance Studio and various speakers before the start of the bulk of events.
“Relay For Life is very important because through these efforts, we’re able to raise money for the American Cancer Society,” Shook said. “That leads to important research to find cures for cancer.”
Events at Brown Childress Stadium continued after the Elizabethton Star’s press deadline. Be sure to check out the Tuesday edition of the paper for more information, photos, and a recap of the event.