2022 Mississippi County Relay for Life

Carla Trammell and Laura Fletcher, executive leadership team members, opened the 2022 Mississippi County Relay for Life activities on Friday evening, Sept. 9. Trammell said the Mississippi County Relay for Life is the last live relay in the state of Arkansas. “We need to keep this going,” she said. Proceeds from the Relay for Life go to the American Cancer Society. She expressed her appreciation to everyone for participating and especially welcomed the cancer survivors. Honorary survivors for this year’s event were Charlene Dunn and Homer and Henrietta Thompson. There will be a survivor dinner held in December to honor the cancer survivors. Teams were introduced and sponsors were recognized. Mary Beth Byrd sang the National Anthem. Toby Johnson read the list of survivors prior to the victory lap. Cancer survivors took the victory lap following a balloon release. Caregivers then joined the survivors in a second lap around the track. Team laps followed. It was games, food, and entertainment all for a cure. This year’s event theme is Game On, The Cure Starts Here. It was the first year for the event to be held downtown. Anastasia Sweeney, senior development manager for the American Cancer Society, was in Blytheville for the two-day event. The Relay for Life ran from 5:30-8:30 p.m. and groups used their talent for competition in Cooking for a Cure which started at 8:30 p.m. The People’s Choice overall award went to Nucor Yamato Steel. Winners in the butt’s category were Farmers Bank & Trust, first place; Blytheville Fire Department, second place; and Nucor Yamato, third place. In the ribs’ category winners were The Shriners, first place; Blytheville Fire Department, second place; and Blytheville Police Department, third place. Activities resumed on Saturday with awards being presented.