Relay For Life returns with ceremony

KINGSPORT — The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Tri-Cities will hold a special celebration Saturday night at the Kingsport Farmers Market, this time with the country Western theme "Give Cancer the Boot." The event will take place from 5:30-8:30 p.m. It will feature a barbecue dinner, cornhole tournament, line dancing and luminaria display. A ceremony of hope will also recognize cancer survivors and caregivers. The community event is free, with some costs associated with dinner and cornhole. Jessica Poff, community development manager and volunteer organizer for the nonprofit, said the event is a tradition to celebrate cancer survivors and remember those they've lost. It also takes time to remember the struggles that survivors and caregivers continue to experience. "Just to come together as a community to say that 'Hey, you know what, we're gonna continue to fight back and make a difference in cancer,'" she said. The relay is celebrating just over 40 years of nationwide activity. It started in 1985 when colorectal surgeon Dr. Gordon Klatt walked and ran a Tacoma, Washington track for 24 hours to raise funds. It quickly spread across the U.S. "That kind of lit a passion," Poff said. "Locally, in our Tri-Cities area, we've been doing these for 30 years throughout the whole region." This year, the cornhole tournament will be run through Bags4Life Cornhole, an organization based in Bristol, Tennessee that raises funds for prostate cancer. The event as a whole will focus on all types of cancer. "It gives people an opportunity to come and be with like-minded folks that have maybe traveled similar roads as they have," Poff said. "But at the same time, just bring a little bit of joy in remembering the positive side of things too." The day is just one of many efforts from the American Cancer Society to tackle the disease — the group funds research and advocates for policy changes. Poff said it also helps provide transportation and lodging for people in treatment, and staff can even help people through difficult moments or questions through an online chat. Poff added that the event runs on volunteers and the group is always looking for more. She said they have opportunities for people of all ages. "It's more than just a name, it really is a mission and an action that is happening because of volunteers like myself," Poff said. "We want to end cancer as we know it."