Few, if any, nursing home residents are able to attend a Relay for Life, so the staff at Hillcrest Health and Rehabilitation in north Corbin brought the relay to their residents Tuesday morning.
The residents and staff, led by six cancer survivors, gathered outside of the facility for the inaugural event culminating the fundraising effort at the facility.
“We have sold T-shirts and other things since January,” said Christy Hinkle, Director of Social Services at the facility, noting the efforts have raised approximately $1,000 for the American Cancer Society.
“We have another month of fundraising to go,” she said explaining that anyone interested in donating may go online to the Laurel County Relay for Life webpage, and click on the “Team Hillcrest” link.
With the assistance of staff members, and led by the cancer survivors, each participant made a lap around the parking circle.
During the survivors lap, Corbin Mayor Suzie Razmus read the poem, “You Are a Survivor.”
At the end of the survivors lap, Razmus presented each survivor with a medal signifying their victory in the fight against cancer.
“All the nursing homes should do this for the residents. They love it,” Hinkle said.
The Relay for Life of Laurel County is scheduled for Friday, June 14 in London.
