Relay will honor cancer survivors with dinner, walk and ceremony

leonnah@standard-democrat.com

SIKESTON -- The annual Relay For Life events have served as a way for communities to honor their survivors, remember loved ones and raise funds for cancer.

This year is no exception, but the Scott County event is a bit different from past Relays. Set for 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. May 1, the event will be in the Family Life Center at the First United Methodist Church in Sikeston.

"The focus of the event is honoring the survivors of Scott County," said Jessica Sanders, community manager for the American Cancer Society.

Scott County hosted a Relay last fall -- on Oct. 25 -- and it went over well, Sanders said. A lot of money was raised, and the weather was perfect that day -- 83 degrees, she recalled.

However, having the event in the spring seems to be more convenient planning-wise, Sanders said.

"The reason for moving the event back to spring is because it was hard for the planning to take place over the summer for the fall event. We felt like in the spring, it seems like there's more normalcy in people's lives," Sanders said.

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