Messenger Intern

For the fourth consecutive year, a very special activity has been planned for those Pike County residents who have survived one of the most fatal diseases in the United States – cancer. This will be the first year that the annual Survivor Breakfast planned for the week before the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life walk will be a Survivor Dinner, instead. The dinner will take place on Wednesday, May 14, at 6:30 p.m. in the Adams Center ballrooms on Troy State University’s campus.

Kay Jinright is the chairman this year of Pike County’s Survivor Dinner, along with co-chairman, Angie Roling, and Judy Baxter, who is in charge of the dinner’s decorations. All involved felt that having a dinner instead of a breakfast would be much easier for those people who have full-time jobs and were unable attend the three breakfasts that were held in the past.

A whopping 300 people are expected to attend the dinner this year. According to Mrs. Jinright, invitations have already been sent out to all of those whose names are on a special cancer survivor list that is kept in the State House in Montgomery. Some people find out about the dinner held in Pike County by word of mouth, though, and they are also welcome to attend. The Survivor Dinner is held for only those who have survived cancer, but the survivors may bring one care-giving guest.

"This is the first year that the survivors have been able to bring a care-giver with them. The idea is that this will be a way for them to say thank you to someone who has been a source of support during their battle with cancer. For some, this will be a spouse, or maybe a good friend or family member," said Mrs. Jinright.

Some musical entertainment will be provided during the dinner, including a duet. Two awards are also given out annually: one for the oldest cancer survivor and one for the survivor with the longest history of survival. Goodie bags full of treats from local merchants will also be given out to all those in attendance, along with a Relay for Life T-shirt.

Sponsors of the dinner include the following: Sodexho Marriot (caterers of the dinner), Synco Drugs and Boutwell Floor Covering.