Nola Sizemore

Staff Writer

Harlan County’s American Cancer Society Relay for Life event has been scheduled for June 23 at Huff Park beginning at 4 p.m. With activities planned throughout the evening and night, everyone is invited to attend.

To open the ceremony, Bank of Harlan President and cancer survivor Steve Tolliver will be the guest speaker. Cancer survivor presentations will be made and a survivor lap will be done around the walking track at the park. The senior graduating class of 2012 Harlan Musettes will sing the National Anthem and Rev. Clay Groves, of the Putney Bible Church, will say a prayer.

“We’ll have the presentation of Relay for Life teams and a parade, followed by Miss Harlan County 2012 and Mountain Laurel Queen 2012 Brooklyn Woods, of Cumberland, singing for us at 5 p.m.,” said Relay for Life Coordinator Phyllis Napier. “Also beginning at 5 p.m., we’ve got a Flip-Flops gymnastics flip-a-thon, a special visit from a superhero and children’s games presented by Raymond Cox and the 4-H organization. We’ve also got a silent auction planned.”

Napier said Zumba fitness activities will begin at 5:30 p.m. conducted by Zumba Fitness’ Dana Capps, Erin Alred and Lyndsey Carmical. Beginning at 6 p.m., local hairdresser Hillary Saylor will be conducting a clip-a-thon for a minimum donation of $10.

“Lawana Blevins, of Evarts, will be singing at 6 p.m. and we’ll have more Zumba with Jammin Halos’ Stacey Madon at 6:30 p.m. Bluegrass band Wolf Creek Grass will perform at 7 p.m., ” said Napier. “We have a volley ball tournament beginning at 7 p.m. also. The Tony Dean Family gospel group will sing for us at 8 p.m. and Anna Jo Creech, of Cumberland, will sing at 8:30 p.m. Everyone is excited about our Elvis impersonator, Deric Jeffers, of Loyall, who will be performing at 9 p.m. You don’t want to miss any of these outstanding activities. Our luminary ceremony will be held at 10 p.m. and we encourage everyone to try and attend this portion of the program to honor those who have lost their battle with cancer.”

Napier said one of their much anticipated events is their “Dude Looks Like a Lady Contest,” which is held at midnight.

“This will keep you rolling with laughter,” said Napier. “Everyone looks forward to it every year.”

To end the ceremony, a sunrise service will be held at 6 a.m.

“We’d like to ask everyone to come out and support the American Cancer Society and the people in your community who have had cancer,” said Napier. “We also want to remember those who have lost their lives to cancer. We invite everyone to just come out and walk a few minutes with us. I’m sure everyone knows someone whose lives have been touched by cancer.”

A cancer survivor/fighter dinner will be held today at the Harlan County Extension Depot beginning at 6 p.m. The event is sponsored by Hospice of the Bluegrass Mountain Heritage.

In Harlan County, the top cancer rates for 2011 were breast cancer in women with 141 cases, prostate cancer in men with 68 cases, lung cancer in both men, 143 cases, and women, 100 cases, and colon cancer in both women, 58 cases, and men, 42 cases.

American Cancer Society representative Marti Harris said thus far in 2012 the American Cancer Society has provided 69 services to 46 constituents, and that Hope Lodge housed 13 Harlan County patients for 109 nights to give a total saved cost of over $13,000 in lodging for 2011.

For more information about the Relay for Life event, you may contact Napier at 606-505-5084.