As brightly-colored balloons floated into the sky above the Danny Bell Cancer Treatment Center Saturday morning, hundreds of area residents began their walk in memory or in honor of someone they knew who had battled cancer.
Many wore the event's gray T-shirt, but one group wore their own gray "Team Jason" T-shirts. They were "friends and family, lots of family," of the late Jason Rose, said his wife, Sarah Rose.
"We are here to walk in memory of my husband, Jason Rose, who passed way last year, September 2016," explained Rose. "He had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer just the month prior ... (it was) very fast, very fast."
Attending her first Sarah Jarboe White United Cancer Assistance Network Walk, Rose said, it was a time to "remember those who lost
their battle to cancer and life-threatening illnesses."
Rose thinks it is "good to show support for people who are continuing in their battle with cancer. We're so appreciative of what they did for us."
Rose said the credit for Team Jason went to his cousin, Sherry Goff, who organized the team, including its fundraiser efforts. The team's shirts included the full name of who they were walking for -- David Jason Chester Rose, with Jesus Christ descending from the J and C in his name and the scripture of Psalms 116-:1-14.
"I did everything for Jason and his memory and Sarah and the boys," Goff said.
Tammy Davis of Harviell, Mo., also was a first-time participant, and was doing so "because my mom is battling breast cancer, and we are walking in honor of her and in memory of other family members."
Davis' mother, Ruthie Withrow, was diagnosed with cancer in November, and she is among those receiving treatment at the cancer center.
"I think they do this for a good cause, a great cause," Davis said.
While Davis wishes events, such as the walk, were not needed, she described it as an "overwhelming, joyous event to walk in memory of the survivors."
Dirk Smith and his family, including his daughter, Emryn Smith, were attending in memory of his wife, Jennifer.
The family, he said, began participating after Jennifer Smith initially was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011.
"The cancer that took her life (two years ago) was anaplastic thyroid cancer," he said.
Emryn Smith described the walk as a great way to get people to come
out and support UCAN.
"It's harder for me now without her, but we still carry her photo," said Emryn Smith, who was among the nearly 10 children to be later
called to the stage to display their photographs of deceased parents.
With Team Harwell imprinted on the sleeves of their shirts, Tonya Jones said, she and other family members, were attending in honor of her dad, Carroll Harwell, died in early 2016.
"We walked last year; we walked right after that (his death), and we're walking again this year," Jones said.
Harwell's niece, Lisa Sloan said, they were there to "honor him because we love him and miss him. He was the greatest man I ever
knew."
Before the walk began, Poplar Bluff Mayor Ed DeGaris, whose mother died of cancer, presented a proclamation to UCAN.
The proclamation acknowledged this year's theme -- Exodus 14:14 -- The Lord will fight for you; you only need to be still. That verse outlined a heart, which contained the names of UCAN patients on the back of the event T-shirt.
Accepting the proclamation was the Dennis Hanes, president of the UCAN Board of Directors, who said working with UCAN uplifts him every day, and the highlight of the year "for me" is the walk.
Hanes said each year the American Red Cross honors people who "touch lives quietly and without the need for recognition" and who "go above and beyond to help their neighbors and communities."
Last week, he said, the Red Cross honored its "everyday heroes."
"Included in that list was someone we all here know very well ... our own friend and executive director, Melody Melloy," said Hanes, who indicated the board wanted to add its "hearty amen" to her selection.
UCAN, according to Hanes, received a $5,000 matching grant from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks to start something "we have wanted
to do for a long time."
The grant, along with $5,000 of its own money, was used to create an endowment fund, "which we hope will grow through the years and be a more permanent account" to add to UCAN's efforts to help its patients, Hanes explained.
The fund was named the Kay Jewell UCAN Endowment Fund, said Hanes.
"Kay is a four-time cancer survivor and is currently under treatment and fighting again," said Hanes, who described Jewell as a longtime
board member and its treasurer.
"There is no more worthy person that we could honor than our dear friend and example, Kay Jewell," Hanes said.
Jewell subsequently told the crowd: "I'm not done; I'll be back."
Also speaking were George Jarboe, Sarah White's father, and her husband, Brian White.
In each of the prior five years, Jarboe said, he has said basically the same thing. This year, he said, his wife, Katie, provided him with some "notes," which he read.
Jarboe welcomed everyone, who were "here to remember and honor their loves ones.
"We are so proud of Sarah, her attitude in facing this disease, her grace in dealing with her diagnosis, but mostly the inspiration" she
was to all. Their daughter, Jarboe read, continued to live while she could with a "constant smile."
Jarboe said they dream for the day there is a cure for cancer or at the least more effective treatment, but until that happens, "UCAN meets so many needs, both financially and emotionally."
For six years, "this day has been moving and amazing," Jarboe read. "It brings the cancer battle to the forefront while celebrating our
loved ones.
"Thank you, Sarah, for the sunshine you brought into our life."
White described his wife as having quiet confidence and humor, something he sees every day in their daughter, Ella.
As the children stood holding photos of their parents, country music artist Ryan Hinkle of Doniphan, Mo., talked about how he lost his grandfather five years ago to cancer. Since then, he said, he has worn his grandfather's watch. As he raised his wrist to show the watch, Hinkle said, he has "never gone on stage without the watch. I was holding his hand when he took his last breath. Cancer is a hot subject in my family."
The song Hinkle chose to sing, he said, was the same one he sang at his grandfather's funeral, and he hoped "I can get through this song and not bawl half way through it."
Accompanied by Jeri McConnell, Hinkle sang "When I Get to Where I'm Going."
Hinkle then sang "Afraid," a song on his album, which he described as "appropriate" for the event. It's lyrics talked about a father and son, and the son's battle with cancer.
Just before the walkers set off, Taylor Truck Stop's team was presented with a trophy for raising the most money -- $5,191.
The walkers then gathered for the balloon release before heading out on their walk.
As she pushed a stroller up Barron Road, Chantel Foust of Broseley, Mo., said she thought it was "amazing people came together like this for people who have passed away."
For Leslie Gibbs of Poplar Bluff, this was her sixth year to attend.
"Sarah was one of my best friends," said Gibbs, who indicated the walk is very significant to her. "It's hard to put into words; so many people in the community are effected by cancer."