Dunklin County Relay for Life Co-Chairs, Tiffany Clark, left, and Autumn Burk, right, meet with Kennett Mayor Roger Wheeler, front, who recently signed a proclamation called Paint the Town Purple in recognition and support of local efforts toward the fight against cancer. [Click to enlarge]

During the last two weeks of May, just before the Dunklin County Relay for Life event, Kennett will be painted purple, celebrating cancer survivorship and bringing to attention an annual local event that directly supports the fight against cancer.

Local volunteers for Relay for Life are using the power of purple to bring good news to cancer survivors and mobilize the community by placing purple Relay for Life ribbons and gear all over Kennett.

Downtown stores will be decorated over the weekend, and volunteers have been selling purple ribbons and relay themed items to the public, who will also be proudly displaying their purple leading up to the Relay for Life event, which begins at 6 p.m., Friday, May 30 and will last until 6 a.m., Saturday, May 31.

In support of this community initiative, Kennett Mayor Roger Wheeler, recently signed a proclamation called "Paint the Town Purple."

Not only are residents of Kennett encouraged to hang their purple ribbons on their homes or mailboxes in support of Relay for Life, but businesses, schools, and religious organizations are also encouraged to get involved.

For example, in other participating communities, schools get involved by planning a purple day that consists of all of the students showing up to school in purple clothes. Other organizations have also done things such as sold the purple Relay for Life suns, which are signed by the people who donated them, or display a name of a cancer survivor or someone who lost their life to the illness.

The Kennett City Hall building already sports the color purple on its doors in support of "Paint the Town Purple."

If you would like to find out how you can show your Relay for Life spirit contact any Relay for Life planning committee member or Co-chair Autumn Burk at (573) 888-7310.