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See tomorrow’s news today at Relay for Life
Published Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Nothing is ever perfect about an event like Relay for Life.
It may be too muddy, too humid, too crowded, raining, too dry. This year, it’s likely it will be too hot and too mosquito-filled.
But perfect isn’t the point. And those comfort-seekers among us might not be perfectly at ease.
Cancer isn’t comfortable. Cancer destroys “perfect.” And cancer doesn’t sleep.
The slogan Relay for Life has used over the years has always run chills up and down my back. “Cancer doesn’t sleep, so for one night, we don’t either.”
It’s a gripping thought, and it is what has motivated hundreds of Miss-Lou residents to pull an all-nighter each May for years.
But like cancer, the Mississippi River isn’t always friendly and this year the muddy waters had different plans. When it came time for the annual Relay, the site — on the Vidalia Riverfront — was inaccessible due to river waters.
A new date was set, and this Friday Relay teams will again gather on the now-dry riverfront.
For those of you who have never taken part in the Relay, you’ve missed out. Teams will set up booths around the makeshift track in late afternoon. By 6 the fun will be gearing up.
Booths will sell goodies for children, food, candy and drinks. Performers will entertain on stage.
And all the while, members of various Relay teams will be walking the track, hour-by-hour, all night long.
Luminaries — bags with candles — will line the track, and a wall containing the names of loved ones who battled cancer will be on display.
The event literally lasts all night long, so drop by when you can, or spend the night.
And as you are walking the track, keep an eye out for The Natchez Democrat booth. We will be right next to the stage.
Our office started a Relay team last year, and had so much fun that we are doing it again.
Like last year, members of the newsroom staff will be working from the site to put the Saturday newspaper together.
We are bringing several computers over, and we’ll hook them up to a projector. Our photos and pages will be projected onto the sheet so passersby can walk and watch us work.
It’s the perfect opportunity for you to point and laugh as we misspell words in headlines and, hopefully, correct them.
We’ll start the night with a blank front page and region page. As the night goes on we’ll add photos and stories from the Relay and the other events of the day. I’m still fascinated by the process we undergo each night to make a newspaper, and hopefully you will be too.
Last year, the day of Relay was the same day then-Circuit Clerk M.L. “Binkey” Vines pleaded guilty to embezzlement. The big story made our night more stressful, but made for a great show for you all.
We don’t know what may happen this Friday, but one way or the other, we’ll make a newspaper, and you’ll have a chance to read tomorrow’s news today.
As the newsroom works other members of our team will be selling T-shirts and other goodies. Be sure to come see us, and if we look a bit frazzled, just remember we are on deadline.
It will probably be hot. The mosquitoes will likely be out in force. And it may even rain.
But the Relay for Life is bigger than the weather. The American Cancer Society fundraiser is about people. Specifically, it’s about people in our community.
The Miss-Lou that I know doesn’t let a few bugs and a little sweat stop it.
Julie Finley is the managing editor of The Natchez Democrat. She can be reached at 601-445-3551 or julie.finley@natchezdemocrat.com.
Comments
Posted by dangyankee (anonymous) on June 11, 2008 at 1:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"But like cancer, the Mississippi River isn’t always friendly"
Is cancer EVER friendly?
My favorite aunt is dying of cancer now, and her brother, whom I'd only seen a couple of times but reminded me a lot of my grandmother (their mother, of course), died of bone cancer a few years ago. Relay for Life sounds like a great way to pay tribute to them.
Nice piece (mostly), Ms. Finley. Keep practicing!
Posted by ladyrider (anonymous) on June 11, 2008 at 8:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I know I'll get a lot of flak for this, but isn't it about time to leave Binkey alone?? He is no longer in the public eye, he pled guilty, so let it drop.
Posted by josey (anonymous) on June 11, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe she had to mention Binky because he is a cancer on Natchez?
Posted by DrunkenMonkey (anonymous) on June 11, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
She mentioned Binkey because he was the big story on the front page when they showed the public how they put the paper together at Relay last year. Have some reading comprehension, people!
Posted by josey (anonymous) on June 11, 2008 at 2:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
But there really was not need to bring him up whatsoever. And I have reading comprehension thank you!
Posted by josey (anonymous) on June 11, 2008 at 2:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry your family is going thru this dangyankee. I have Aunts on both my mother and father's side struggling with breast cancer right now. It is very hard to deal with.
Posted by DrunkenMonkey (anonymous) on June 11, 2008 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry if I was a little snippy. I was feeling bad this morning, and that made me irritable. I know that’s not a good excuse, so please accept my apologies.
Posted by josey (anonymous) on June 11, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Apology accepted. It was a very gracious gesture on your part and I appreciate it.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on June 12, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Josey, I'm so sorry about the pain and suffering your family has endured. It is devastating to all who have lost loved ones to this dreaded disease. I have experienced it all personally with family and friends. Through it all we had each other to lean on and get through the terrible times. But to my recollection, never did we have any back up or solace from any cancer foundation that seeks these donations year in and year out. Cancer took all savings. There is no solace in telling me that donations are used on the fight against cancer. They died anyway after a prolonged existence of pain and tears. As far as I'm concerned it's just a very deep abyss that gobbles up hard earned money. If as much money was spent on educating people about this disease and eating right to help prevent it's ravishing desire to cause death it would be much better. Each year more people fall prey to this disease. Do you ever ask, WHY???? Go to the rallies and have fun, enjoy yourself to the fullest, but no one will ever make me believe the money raised is spent on a good cause. I may at some time be pronounced to have cancer, but I surely will never expect to have help from this foundation. And I, by no means want to prolong an agonising death by machines. For those of who think they have been helped by this foundation good for you, but all said and done you might have done it all by yourself.
Posted by josey (anonymous) on June 12, 2008 at 9:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you Destiny. My family has been thru so much lately and for me to have to watch these 2 vibrant beautiful women go thru this is extremely hard. it makes me wonder what my chances are since i hae both maternal and paternal aunts with cancer. My family has already given me their diabeties so what next.
As far as foundations giving I have seen what the cancer society and foundations like the ronald McDonald house can do for families. My friend has a daughter with lukemia and these foundations were there for them. If not they would not have made it thru some extremely hard financial times.
Posted by texasranger (anonymous) on June 12, 2008 at 10:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My prayers go out to all the families,it has claimed several lives in our family in the last few years.
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