Letter to the Editor

Relay for Life is great way to celebrate loved ones

Friday, May 1, 2015

To the editor:

I went to a visitation yesterday for the mother of one of our Nucor-Yamato Steel employees. She found out two months ago she had pancreatic cancer, and now she's gone to be with our Lord.

Cancer is so devastating and unfortunately we've all been hurt by cancer directly or indirectly. Just last year, I lost one of my very best friends, Chuck Wilder, to pancreatic cancer. He was diagnosed in February and we buried him last September.

We all have these terrible stories to share; if we could only have a few more minutes with them to give them a huge hug would be so wonderful. That won't happen until we reach heaven with them.

I do have a special way you can honor your loved ones, June 6, it's the North Mississippi County Relay for Life. If you are a cancer survivor or fighting cancer now, we invite you to this event to celebrate YOU and give you hope. If you are a caretaker, we invite you to celebrate your love for the person you care for.

If you've lost a loved one, please come join us in the celebration of their life.

This year, the North Mississippi County Relay for Life and Cars and Cycles Against Cancer have joined together for a one-day event. Beginning 10:30 Saturday morning at Arkansas Aeroplex in Blytheville, as Chuck would say, "to kick cancer's butt."

Our next organizational meeting is May 11 at the Greater Blytheville Area Chamber of Commerce, beginning at 5:15 pm.

Please come if you would like to get involved in any way, start a team or join an existing team. This is a great way to raise money to fight this terrible disease. The money you raise may actually save your own life one day. This is a very easy way to celebrate our heroes that have fought or are fighting cancer.

This year's Relay theme is "Superheroes." Who is your superhero that has fought cancer? Please join us in celebrating our loved ones.

I love ya'll.

Steve Southard
Chairman of the North Mississippi County Relay For Life