Survivor dinner held, Relay For Life set

The 11th annual Clay County Relay For Life is set for Saturday, April 25, at Heritage Park in Piggott. Monday night the week's activities officially kicked off with the fourth annual Survivor's Dinner at the Emmanuel Baptist Church of Piggott.

With a good crowd on hand, co-chair Cheryl Gookin introduced the steering committee for this year's event, along with honored survivors, Nancy and Tommy Hardcastle. The Piggott couple will be leading the symbolic first lap around the walking track Saturday morning, as the survivors' walk is set to begin at 9 a.m. to start the day-long relay.

Members of the steering committee include: chair Susie Bowman, co-chair Gookin, Paul Blackwell, Gerald and Sue Hoggard, Gary and Paula Laughlin, Jennifer Vernon and Jason Howell.

The organizers also offered their thanks to the sponsors of the survivor dinner, Piggott Discount Drug, Piggott Family Medical Clinic, Silas Pest Control, Piggott Florist, Sue's Flower and Gifts, Piggott Community Hospital, Judy Parker, Shelby Bowman, Jason and Sally Howell, Ann and Ross Reagan and Dixie Cleaners. They also offered their thanks to Emmanuel Baptist Church for hosting the event and to Bro. Kevin Murray for offering the opening prayer, along with Patrick Patterson for providing entertainment.

The evening ended with a candlelighting ceremony as each individual was given the chance to remember or honor a cancer victim or survivor.

The schedule for this Saturday will begin at 9 a.m. with the survivors' walk and will end around 9 p.m. with the luminary ceremony and the announcement of the winning teams and their totals.

Organizers noted there is still time to volunteer to participate in this year's Relay For Life. Those who want more information may contact Bowman at 598-3457 or 529-3650.

More information on the American Cancer Society can be obtained by calling their information line at 1-800-ACS-2345 or online at www.cancer.org.

Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend this year's Clay County Relay For Life this Saturday at Heritage Park.