“How-dee! I’m jest so proud to be here!”

The Pike County Relay for Life board hosted the Survivors Dinner Monday night at the Park Memorial Family Life Center and Minnie Pearl’s sentiment was echoed many, many times in so many ways.

“We are all so proud to be here,” said Doristene Sankey. “I look around and see so many people that I know that have battled cancer and have won. Cancer has no favorites. It affects people from all walks of life and I’m sure that most of those here tonight were like me. I never thought that I would have cancer but it happened. But because of so many advances in diagnosis and treatments, we are here tonight.”

Sankey said hearing that she had cancer was hard to accept.

“That was 14 years ago, and tonight, I can say, ‘I’m a survivor. I have made it though another year.”

The Survivors Dinner is a happy time and it’s a time to count one’s blessings.

“Each one of us is so blessed and every day I count my blessings,” Sankey said. “How can you not be thankful when you have been so blessed.”

Sankey said battles over cancer are being won every day but the war is not over. Cancer is still a formidable enemy.
“We must keep up the fight,” she said. “That’s why Relay for Life is so important. It’s the encouragement we need to keep up fighting. And, it’s a chance for those who us who have survived to be together and celebrate another year of life. That’s why I Relay. Why we Relay.

Isaiah Scott, Pike County Relay for Life chair, said Relay teams continue to raise funds for the 2018 Pike County Relay for Life campaign and will up until the clock strikes midnight Friday.

The culminating Relay for Life event will be at 6 p.m. Friday at the Children’s Miracle Field Playground at the Troy Sportsplex. All teams and supporters of Relay for Life 2018 are invited to attend.

“We will have luminaries will be available for purchase at the event,” Scott said. “They are also available at Troy B&T in Troy and will be available at TB&T in Brundidge. We have a fun night of activities planned. Teams will have tents and will be grilling. We’ll have great entertainment and several different lap walks.”

The Survivors Walk will be an event of the opening ceremony. There will also be a Team Walk. The Luminary Walk will honor and remember those who are continuing to battle cancer and those who lost their battles.

“We invite all of those whose lives have been touched by cancer to join us Friday night for this very special event,” he said.