By Staff
RELAY FOR LIFE Jonathan Jones places a bouquet of flowers and a picture Friday in front of a luminary honoring the memory of his grandfather, Bennie Whitlock. The luminaries, candles lit inside paper bags, were placed around the track at Meridian High School's Ray Stadium for the Lauderdale County 10th Annual Relay For Life. The event was expected to end at
6 a.m. today. Photo by Paula Merritt / The Meridian Star
June 12, 2004
By Erin Hilsabeck / staff writer
Genny Cornwell's father died at 62 from lung cancer.
But unlike other people participating in the Lauderdale County Relay for Life on Friday night, Cornwell wasn't walking the track at Meridian High School's Ray Stadium.
Instead, she was cutting hair. Cornwell, a volunteer with "Look Good…Feel Better," was at the "Cosmetology Against Cancer" booth for the 10th annual event.
For $5 a haircut, Cornwell was more than willing to let her scissors loose on unruly hair. The proceeds, of course, would go to fund cancer research, education and advocacy.
Part of the money raised by Relay for Life comes from corporate donors. The rest is from other business and civic groups across Meridian and Lauderdale County.
Volunteers from the organizations gathered at Ray Stadium hours before the event's 7 p.m. start. There, they worked through the afternoon heat to set up tents and tables and prepare for the all-night relay.
Relay for Life was scheduled to end at 6 a.m. today.
First Christian Church had local chef B.B. Archer under its tent, who busily cooked shrimp pasta in 5-gallon metal pots. At other booths, pizza, hamburgers and even etouffee were ready to be eaten by hungry walkers.
While 300 cancer survivors were expected to attend the relay, hundreds more walked in support of family members or friends who have been touched by cancer.
Alma Houze, who works with "Look Good…Feel Better" to educate cancer survivors about skin changes and hair loss, worked with Cornwell and Little Rock hair stylist Trista Butler at Relay for Life.
Houze was eager to get to work cutting hair, and to raise money for the fight against cancer.