McKenzie Cain sold Mayor Ronnie Marks a door hanger that is the gold awareness ribbon for childhood cancer. The ribbon is on Athens City Hall
ATHENS-Superheroes like Wonder Woman and childhood cancer survivor McKenzie Cain are ready to clean up this city and save the day by ridding Athens and her sister cities across the nation of childhood cancer and supporting those who battle it.
The pair recently came to Athens City Hall to lasso Mayor Ronnie Marks and promote Team Victory 4 All’s annual Superhero Day for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month at Big Spring Memorial Park in downtown Athens. The free event is Saturday, Sept. 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and honors our community’s younger heroes who have battled or are battling cancer.
Everyone is welcome to attend and meet superhero characters like Wonder Woman and Wolverine and real heroes such as military personnel and first responders. Children and adults are encouraged to dress up as their favorite superhero.
Stranger Things actress Tabitha Kilgore and movie make-up artist Tara Merryman will be among the special guests thanks to The Deep, Comics & Games.
There will be a Defenders of Hope competition to see who has the best children’s game, bounce houses, the Flash Dash Fun Run, market and food vendors, music and the “Super Shear,” which is an opportunity to donate hair to Wigs 4 Kids. The Parade of Heroes will kick off at 10:15 a.m. and go through the park.
Around 9:30 a.m., Mayor Ronnie Marks will read the Childhood Cancer Awareness Month proclamation for the City of Athens. In addition, the city and Team Victory 4 All will recognize Athens firefighters and police officers who attempted a water rescue on July 4, 2015.
Organizer Kristie Williams asked the City of Athens Relay for Life Team to oversee a first responders/military section known as “Real Heroes” for this year’s event.
“Our first responders and military community have been very responsive to supporting this event,” said City Relay Team Captain Holly Hollman.
She said Athens Fire and Rescue will have vehicles and a mini-obstacle course for children. Athens Police will have patrol vehicles and the tactical robot. The Limestone County Sheriff’s Department is bringing a rescue boat and armored vehicle. The Dixie Division Military Club plans to bring a World War II-era jeep, and the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association plans to bring a helicopter. Athens-Limestone Ambulance Service will bring an ambulance if one is available.
“Another great addition will be from Owens Volunteer Fire Department, which is bringing its pink fire truck that cancer survivors and families who lost a loved one from cancer can sign,” Hollman said. “Owens also will have a booth in memory of Copper Hodges, a child who died from cancer.”
The City’s Relay Team will have blue and red star balloons to give away and police badge stickers. The Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives will have flak jackets and helmets children can try on to see how heavy the equipment is that servicemen and women wear.
Money raised from vendors, sponsors and donations goes to Team Victory 4 All, a non-profit organization which hosts events to give-back to the community, raises money for childhood cancer research and pays for funeral expenses of children lost to cancer.
Superhero Day Event Info
Date: Sept. 10, 2016
Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (with opening ceremony around 9:30)
Location: Big Spring Memorial Park (the duck pond) in Downtown Athens
Cost: Free
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/teamvictory4all/
