Tammy Powell, a choir member at Brundidge United Methodist Church, worked the Stop Cancer! Roadblock Saturday in downtown Brundidge. At church on  Sunday morning, Powell announced the total amount of pennies and twenties that were dropped in the buckets that will be used to help fund research into the treatments and cures for cancer.

“I stand here today because of cancer research,” Powell said. “A lot of us here in this church are here because of research that is funded through Relay for Life.”

The same could be said in churches in cities and hamlets all across this country and in any places where people gather.

According to information published in the American Cancer Society journal, there will be an estimated 1,762,450 new cancer cases diagnosed in 2019 and 606,880 cancer deaths in the United States. That’s why we Relay, Powell said.

The 2019 Pike County Relay for Life fundraising campaign will culminate  with Relay Night at the Troy  Sportsplex Friday night.

Relay Night is a time to honor and celebrate  those who have survived cancer; support those who are in the fight with the disease and remember those whose battles were lost .

Relay gets underway with the Survivors Dinner at 5 p.m. in the gym at the Troy Recreation Center. The Survivors Walk will be at 6:30 p.m. on the Relay Field.  Caregivers, family members and friends are then invited to walk the next lap with the survivors. Team members and others are invited to continue walking until around 8:30 p.m. when the Luminary Walk begins. Luminaires line the track and each luminary has the name of a family member or friend who has battled the disease. In the quietness of night, the names of the those lives who have been affected by cancer are read.

The Luminary Walk is the heart of Relay. It is a time of remembrance, of thankfulness and of hope, Powell said.

Each luminary is a $5 donation to Relay for Life. Each dollar raised will be dedicated to the fight against cancer.

Luminaries and luminary forms are available the front desk at The Messenger, 918 South Brundidge Street in Troy. The forms will be available until 2 p.m. Friday.