• Subscribe
    • Franklin Living Magazine
    • Services
      • About Us
      • Subscribe
      • Policies
      • Terms of use
      • Submit a news tip
      • Submit a photo
      • Birth announcement
      • Birthday announcement
      • Engagement announcement
      • Wedding announcement
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Letter to the Editor
    • Classifieds
    • E-editions
    • Public Notices
      • Public Notices
      • Alabama Public Notices
    • Subscribe
    • Franklin Living Magazine
    • Services
      • About Us
      • Subscribe
      • Policies
      • Terms of use
      • Submit a news tip
      • Submit a photo
      • Birth announcement
      • Birthday announcement
      • Engagement announcement
      • Wedding announcement
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Letter to the Editor
    • Classifieds
    • E-editions
    • Public Notices
      • Public Notices
      • Alabama Public Notices

Franklin County Times
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyles
  • Obituaries
  • Records
  • Subscribe
  • Services
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Policies
  • Terms of use
  • Submit a news tip
  • Submit a photo
  • Birth Announcement
  • Birthday announcement
  • Engagement announcement
  • Wedding announcement
  • Submit a Classified Ad
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Classifieds
  • Public Notices
    Franklin County Times
      • Site logo
      • Home
      • News
        • Russellville
        • Red Bay
        • Phil Campbell
        • Franklin County
        • Photo Galleries
        • Sponsored Content
      • Sports
        • Belgreen Bulldogs
        • Phil Campbell Bobcats
        • Red Bay Tigers
        • Russellville Golden Tigers
        • Tharptown Wildcats
        • Vina Red Devils
        • College Sports
        • Sports Columnists
      • Opinion
        • Letters to the Editor
        • Columnists
        • Editorials
      • Lifestyles
        • Birthdays
        • Births
        • Couples
        • Food
        • Features
      • Obituaries
      • Records
        • Sheriff’s Report
        • Marriages
        • Land Transactions
        • Police Reports
      • Special Sections
      • Site logo
      • Home
      • News
        • Russellville
        • Red Bay
        • Phil Campbell
        • Franklin County
        • Photo Galleries
        • Sponsored Content
      • Sports
        • Belgreen Bulldogs
        • Phil Campbell Bobcats
        • Red Bay Tigers
        • Russellville Golden Tigers
        • Tharptown Wildcats
        • Vina Red Devils
        • College Sports
        • Sports Columnists
      • Opinion
        • Letters to the Editor
        • Columnists
        • Editorials
      • Lifestyles
        • Birthdays
        • Births
        • Couples
        • Food
        • Features
      • Obituaries
      • Records
        • Sheriff’s Report
        • Marriages
        • Land Transactions
        • Police Reports
      • Special Sections
    Campaign for a cure
    Survivors share in their success with a special lap around the Russellville High School track.
    Features, Franklin County, Lifestyles, LIFESTYLES -- FEATURE SPOT, News, Z - News Main
     By  Staff Reports Published 
    3:39 pm Tuesday, May 8, 2018

    Campaign for a cure

  • The Red Bay FFA String Band performs at Friday night’s Franklin County Relay for Life. Hundreds converged on the Russellville High School Stadium for a night of fundraising, celebration and memorializing. For more about Relay for Life, turn to page 14.

  • Shawn Partain of Russellville, owner of Underwood Spa & Salon, provides massages at Relay for Life.

  • Wanda Peppers and Karen Thompson are among the cancer survivors celebrating Franklin County Relay for Life.

  • Wanda Peppers and Karen Thompson are among the cancer survivors celebrating Franklin County Relay for Life.

  • Survivors share in their success with a special lap around the Russellville High School track.

  • Hoyt Wells, Wayne Swinney and W.G. Cochran are among the cancer survivors celebrating Franklin County Relay for Life.

  • 🞬
    ❮❯
    By María Camp / For the FCT

    The annual Franklin County Relay for Life, an event to celebrate local cancer survivors, caregivers and fundraising efforts for the American Cancer Society, took place May 4 at the Russellville High School stadium. This year’s theme was the survivor and caregiver experience.

    Anna Duncan, community development manager for the American Cancer Society, said this year’s fundraising goal was $95,000. Funds are raised from September through August. The current fundraising total is $75,000.

    “We’d like to encourage our local community to help meet this goal,” Duncan said.

    Donations can be made at CB&S bank downtown or Community Spirit Bank, both the Russellville and Red Bay branches, as well as online at relayforlife.org/franklinal.

    At Friday night’s event, survivors and caregivers walked a lap around the track in a show of hope and solidarity. Each group was recognized during the event, both for fighting cancer in their own ways.

    After that lap, Milford Brown, 74, a colon cancer survivor, and his wife, Amy, invited anyone who was inclined and able to walk another lap with them in memory of their 46-year-old daughter, Dana, who suddenly died two weeks ago, not related to cancer.

    “Relay for Life has been special for me,” Brown said, “ever since I was diagnosed in 1998. I had surgery and 30 chemo treatments starting a month later.

    “The money raised through this event will help with cancer research and, one day, there will be a cure for cancer. It might not be in my lifetime, but one day. It’s very meaningful to come here and walk with other survivors.”

    Many other survivors shared Brown’s feelings for the special annual event.

    Wanda Peppers, a 63-year-old cancer survivor from Phil Campbell, said she is thankful for every day. Her first Relay for Life was in 2012, after she was diagnosed in 2011. “I was fortunate to have a good support team to help me through my surgery, radiation and chemo,” Peppers said.

    About three years from the date of her diagnosis, Peppers’ mother, age 90 at the time, was diagnosed with the same type of cancer; however, she survived it by two years.

    Carol Landers, of Phil Campbell, is a 3.5-year survivor of cancer. She and her husband were diagnosed with colon cancer within four days of each other. Both are doing well now.

    The evening was filled with fundraising, stories and entertainment. Red Bay High School’s FFA string band performed under the direction of Jared Massey. Massage therapist Shawn Partain, owner of Underwood Spa and Salon, was on hand to help alleviate aches and pains, in her first time attending Relay. “I have really enjoyed it. It’s a lot of fun,” Partain said. “I am honored that I was asked to come.”

    To close the evening, the Luminaria Ceremony was held. Most of the stadium lights were turned off, and paper bags were lit with glow sticks, each to recognize a life – a survivor of cancer, a life taken by cancer or someone still fighting. The ceremony included a few minutes of silence for reflection.

    Fundraising recognition is as follows.

    • Top fundraising team: St. Paul.
    • Top business team: Community Spirit Bank.
    • Top community team: Southside.
    • Top medical team: Russellville Hospital.
    • Top school team: Russellville HOSA.
    • Volunteers of the Year: CB&S Bank.
    • Spirit of Relay Team: Jimmy Flemming – Red Bay.

    Karen Thompson, a 23-year cancer survivor from Russellville, said she would like to encourage people to be involved in Relay for Life. “Cancer affects all of us in one way, shape or form, and this is one way we can fight it,” Thompson said. Hoyt Wells, of Phil Campbell, a 17-year cancer survivor, added, “This event is a really good effort to raise funds for cancer research.”

    Duncan thanked the event sponsors – Ambulance Billing Service, Lanny Norris, Community Spirit Bank, Sunshine Mills, Mar Jac Poultry and CB&S Bank and offered special thanks to Russellville City Schools, Scott Equipment, Lyft, Billy Boyd and Jamie Medley.

    New members are currently being accepted to the Franklin County fundraising leadership team. For more information, contact Duncan at anna.duncan@cancer.org.

    Another way to help in the fight against cancer is to sign up to be a driver for the Road to Recovery program. “Road to Recovery is one of our programs of special focus locally. This helps provide free rides for cancer treatment,” Duncan said. “Our goal is 50 new drivers. You can sign up by calling 1-800-227-2345.”

    Call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 for cancer information – any time, day or night.

    Also on Franklin County Times
    PHOTO GALLERY: Jam at Sloss Lake
    Franklin County, Galleries, Lifestyles
    PHOTO GALLERY: Jam at Sloss Lake
    Griffin Traylor 
    July 9, 2025
    Auditor says city’s financial health is very good
    Main, News, Russellville, ...
    Auditor says city’s financial health is very good
    María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    July 9, 2025
    RUSSELLVILLE -- The city has received what its auditor called a “clean opinion” on its fiscal year 2024 audit, meaning no significant deficiencies or ...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Place of Grace opens recovery home in Franklin County
    Franklin County, Main, News, ...
    Place of Grace opens recovery home in Franklin County
    María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    July 9, 2025
    The Place of Grace has opened a new recovery home in Franklin County, offering women a structured, faith-based environment to continue their journey a...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Hamilton: Title II funding freeze is a concern
    Main, News, Russellville, ...
    Hamilton: Title II funding freeze is a concern
    Alyssa Sutherland For the FCT 
    July 9, 2025
    R U S S E L L V I L L E – Franklin County Superintendent Greg Hamilton is concerned about the status of more than $6 billion in federal education gran...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Fire Department receives new $2.2M platform truck
    Main, News, Russellville, ...
    Fire Department receives new $2.2M platform truck
    María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    July 9, 2025
    RUSSELLVILLE Firefighters and city officials showed off the Fire Department’s new $2.2 million 100-foot platform fire truck in a safety demonstration ...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Palmer certified for fourth term on Russellville Council
    News, Russellville, Z - News Main
    Palmer certified for fourth term on Russellville Council
    María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    July 9, 2025
    RUSSELLVILLE – The city council approved a certificate of election stating Councilman David Palmer was the only candidate to qualify for Council Distr...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Summer camps nurture faith, friendship and growth
    Columnists, Opinion
    HERE AND NOW
    Summer camps nurture faith, friendship and growth
    July 9, 2025
    Susie Hovater Malone Columnist During the summer many Franklin County youths enjoy attending summer camps, where they engage in hiking, swimming, spor...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    The prosperity we enjoy depends on Sea Lanes of Communication
    Columnists, Opinion
    The prosperity we enjoy depends on Sea Lanes of Communication
    July 9, 2025
    The Pax Americana, the period since World War II when there have been no major world wars, has led to the greatest period of freedom the world has eve...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    ❮ ❯
    Latest Local News
    PHOTO GALLERY: Jam at Sloss Lake
    PHOTO GALLERY: Jam at Sloss Lake
    July 9, 2025
    Auditor says city’s financial health is very good
    Auditor says city’s financial health is very good
    RUSSELLVILLE -- The city has received what its auditor called a “clean opinion” on its fiscal year 2024 audit, meaning no significant deficiencies or ...
    July 9, 2025
    Place of Grace opens recovery home in Franklin County
    Place of Grace opens recovery home in Franklin County
    The Place of Grace has opened a new recovery home in Franklin County, offering women a structured, faith-based environment to continue their journey a...
    July 9, 2025
    Hamilton: Title II funding freeze is a concern
    Hamilton: Title II funding freeze is a concern
    R U S S E L L V I L L E – Franklin County Superintendent Greg Hamilton is concerned about the status of more than $6 billion in federal education gran...
    July 9, 2025
    Fire Department receives new $2.2M platform truck
    Fire Department receives new $2.2M platform truck
    RUSSELLVILLE Firefighters and city officials showed off the Fire Department’s new $2.2 million 100-foot platform fire truck in a safety demonstration ...
    July 9, 2025

    More Local News

    Latest Stories
    Municipal elections: Let your voice be heard on Aug. 26
    Qualifying for municipal races across the state, including Franklin County, closed on June 24 leaving several contested races leading up to the Aug. 2...
    July 9, 2025
    TVA surcharge to raise August bills for customers
    RUSSELLVILLE Electricity customers should expect higher bills in August as TVA passes along a surcharge driven by high summer demand and a recent outa...
    July 9, 2025
    Hutcheson participates in CCHS program
    Hutcheson participates in CCHS program
    PHIL CAMPBELL — Rising Phil Campbell High School senior Hudson Hutcheson spent most of his summer at the University of Alabama. An aspiring dentist, h...
    July 9, 2025
    Being struck by lightning was ‘shocking experience’
    Being struck by lightning was ‘shocking experience’
    RUSSELLVILLE — Lisa Henderson was lying on her bed, scrolling through social media sites on her phone and enjoying a cozy, rainy Sunday afternoon with...
    July 9, 2025
    Jeffreys named new head football coach at Red Bay
    Jeffreys named new head football coach at Red Bay
    RED BAY -- Tyler Jeffreys has been named the new head coach at Red Bay High School. Jeffreys is stepping in to replace Heath Childers, who recently re...
    July 9, 2025
    Latest Sports
    Jeffreys named new head football coach at Red Bay
    Jeffreys named new head football coach at Red Bay
    RED BAY -- Tyler Jeffreys has been named the new head coach at Red Bay High School. Jeffreys is stepping in to replace Heath Childers, who recently re...
    July 9, 2025
    Hamilton to play baseball at Blue Mountain College
    Hamilton to play baseball at Blue Mountain College
    RED BAY -- Red Bay High School’s Reed Hamilton has officially signed a scholarship to continue his education and baseball career at Blue Mountain Coll...
    July 9, 2025
    Allison tapped to lead Lady Bobcats softball
    Allison tapped to lead Lady Bobcats softball
    PHIL CAMPBELL -- A familiar face will be leading the Phil Campbell High School Lady Bobcats softball program next season. Darby Allison, a 2007 gradua...
    July 2, 2025
    6 local students accepted into FAME program
    6 local students accepted into FAME program
    Northwest Shoals Community College (NWSCC) has signed 6 Franklin County students to its 2025–26 Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME)...
    July 2, 2025
    Junior golfers hone skills through summer program
    Junior golfers hone skills through summer program
    RUSSELLVILLE -- A young generation of golfers teed off this summer at Twin Pines Country Club, thanks to a local effort to create opportunities for ch...
    July 2, 2025

    More Sports Stories

    x

    Sections

    • Home
    • News
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Lifestyles
    • Obits
    • Special Sections
    • Sponsored Content
      • Home
      • News
      • Sports
      • Opinion
      • Lifestyles
      • Obits
      • Special Sections
      • Sponsored Content

    Services

    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise With Us
    • Policies
    • Terms of use
    • Submit a news tip
    • Submit a photo
    • Birth announcement
    • Birthday announcement
    • Engagement announcement
    • Wedding announcement
    • Submit a Classified Ad
    • Letter to the Editor
    • Sign Up For Our Free Newsletter
      • About Us
      • Subscribe
      • Advertise With Us
      • Policies
      • Terms of use
      • Submit a news tip
      • Submit a photo
      • Birth announcement
      • Birthday announcement
      • Engagement announcement
      • Wedding announcement
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Letter to the Editor
      • Sign Up For Our Free Newsletter

    Follow Us

    Copyright

    © , Franklin County Times