The old saying, laughter is the best medicine, was never more true than Friday night at the annual Relay For Life of Fayette County Survivor Dinner. The 400 cancer survivors and their caregivers who attended the dinner at New Hope Baptist church were treated to a wonderful meal provided by event sponsors, Piedmont Fayette Hospital, and then enjoyed a very entertaining program by guest speaker Ellen Hester.
Hester, had the room in stitches. Not the medical kind of stitches, the laughter kind. Guests welcomed Hester’s character, Florence Jean, the blonde bombshell waitress, as she rolled in a restaurant cart of props, just as dessert was being served. Through her specifically revised program, “Wipe out Whining,” Flo reminded everyone in the room that whining is not attractive, or good for you, regardless of your state of health. Through captivating and hilarious story telling Flo reminded the room to be grateful for each and every day, even days filled with doctor’s visits, aches and pains. Hester shared her own personal story of the sudden loss of her own son, to reiterate that each and every day is a gift from ones creator and should be celebrated.
Celebrating more birthdays was the theme of the evening. Table and room decorations reflected the American Cancer Society’s theme, of Celebrating More Birthdays.
Volunteers from the hospital and local community groups served the survivors and treated them like the VIP’s they are in the world of Relay. Door prizes were awarded, including two tickets to anywhere in the continental United States, donated by Delta Air Lines. Most importantly, the guests had an opportunity to share time with others who have experienced the cancer battle. Using laughter as the backdrop, the evening was a special opportunity to have a pleasant time in the face of a very unpleasant health experience.
