The final pieces are falling into place for the Aug. 11 Oktibbeha County Relay for Life, and decorations are planned to appear on Main Street as the event draws closer.
The 2017 Oktibbeha County Relay for Life will be Friday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Mississippi Horse Park on Poorhouse Road. The theme is "Heroes of Hope: Fighting for a World Without Cancer."
During the event, teams will be able to set up campsites around the track and will have representatives walking the track of the covered arena at the Horse Park. Their continuous walk symbolizes the battle faced by a cancer patient during treatment.
"The event itself is about recognizing survivors and caregivers and honoring those that we've lost and raising money for others," marketing and logistics lead Brian Hawkins said.
The goal for this year's Oktibbeha County Relay for Life is to raise $100,000 to help with research and treatment. Over the years, cancer treatment research has increased the life expectancies and the survival rate of people who are diagnosed. Funds from Oktibbeha County Relay for Life will help patients in Mississippi and support research at University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.
Purple ribbons have been tied to poles and doors in downtown Starkville to raise awareness for the event. Businesses that donated $25 to the Paint the Town Purple campaign received a purple ribbon outside to represent support for the upcoming event.
"There are businesses with ribbons on their doors and there is going to be more of that going up this week," Hawkins said. "There is going to be a banner going up across Main Street."
At the event, there will be food, games, music and live entertainment. A special service will be held at 10:30 p.m. in memory of people who have been lost and to honor survivors and caregivers. At the service attendees may light luminaries and Torches of Hope in honor of those they know who have battled cancer.
"This is an event that we hope brings the town of Starkville and the entirety of Oktibbeha County closer together with a common thread,” event lead Caleb Rich said. "I don't know anyone who has not been touched by cancer in some way."