Relay for life celebrates survivors

By Phil Fauver Staff writer

The 2014 Relay For Life in Emery County opened Friday evening July 11 at Emery High School track and football field just after a rainstorm.
The theme of the evening was “Survivors are the real “Heroes” and we want to celebrate all of our Emery County “Hero” Survivors.”
Kori Oveson and Mandi Potter were the coordinators of the Emery County Relay For Life event.
Relay For Life is a program of the American Cancer Society to promote the awareness of cancer. Every year about 4 million people in more than 20 countries raise much-needed funds and awareness to save lives from cancer through the Relay For Life Movement.
During a Relay event, participants and survivors celebrate what they’ve overcome. Each cancer survivor participant was given a great survivor dinner, catered by Kent Wilson of BK’s in Huntington, a purple box containing a water bottle and a purple tea shirt. On the shirt were the words, “I am strength, I am Hope, I am a survivor.” Relay For life is a celebration of surviving the dread disease of cancer. At this event we remembered people lost to the disease, and honored people who have fought or are fighting cancer. The event inspires Relay participants to take action against a disease that has taken too much.
No words can strike fear to the heart of an individual like the words, “You have cancer.”
Boy Scouts from Huntington under the direction of Kevin Gilbert presented a flag ceremony and the National Anthem after which Richard Huntington gave a prayer.
During the evening several entertainers came forward and performed dances or sang. Laryssa Guymon, Miss Emery Second Attendant played a violin solo.
At 11 p.m. the Luminaries were lighted around the oval track with the football lights turned off. In the bleachers luminaries spelled out the word CURE.
Many survivors and caregivers walked around the track and read the words on the luminaries during the evening. The very large moon that night provided a great deal of light.