ATHENS-On Friday, May 12, 2017, was Relay for Life of Limestone County where all the teams celebrate what they have accomplished for our community and in the fight against cancer.
This campaign year the City of Athens Relay for Life Team lost a co-worker to colon cancer and immediately after, learned another co-worker and team member had breast cancer.
The city team did not let cancer defeat its fighting spirit.
The City of Athens Relay for Life Team:
Raised $20,000 for the American Cancer Society;
Provided balloons and toys to children at Superhero Day for Childhood Cancer Awareness;
Provided information on gynecological cancers for the Month of Teal;
Held a blood mobile drive in memory of former Mayor and State Representative Dan Williams that led to 19 pints donated;
Raised awareness about cancer prevention, treatment, research, and support programs.
Holly Hollman
Received an Ambassadors Award by the Southeastern region of the American Cancer Society and were recognized at a ceremony in Birmingham.
“Most importantly, we worked together as a team to accomplish all of this,” said city team Captain Holly Hollman. “Our city theme was Light the Journey With Hope. We are thankful to our community for all the support and being a light of hope for us.”
Chief Bryan Thornton with the photograph of him and his sister Lisa Vaughn
During the Relay for Life of Limestone County Event, Athens Fire and Rescue Chief Bryan Thornton spoke about the impact cancer has had on his family, including the loss of his father and the recent death of his sister. Thornton’s sister, Lisa Vaughn, who worked for the city’s Public Works Department, died nearly a month after her diagnoses of colon cancer earlier this year.
Thornton implored those attending Relay to get their annual exams such as colonoscopies and mammograms.
“I can tell you with confidence tonight that God is using my sister to save others from this terrible disease,” he said. “I have had numerous people tell me I have gotten my prostate exam, I got my colonoscopy, I got my mammogram because of your sister’s story.”
Thornton, who told Vaughn after her diagnosis that he would walk with her during the Survivor’s Lap at Relay, had to walk with her memory and a photograph of them together.
