Relay for Life

Banners waving at Relay. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

The sign-in booth at Relay. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

The Tyson Foods tent site (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

The Central Park Elementary School team camp site. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

The Crowin' for the Cure team from Tyson Foods won the Spirit Award for teams at this year's Relay for Life. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

The Eagle Echoes children's choir under the direction of Sharon Vaughn sang the National Anthem for the opening ceremony at Relay for Life. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

Clocks bearing the names of many exotic locales, complete with a stuffed Panda, epitomized the Relay theme, "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere," winning the best campsite honors for the PlayPower team. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

Sometimes a little company makes a long evening go better. Peyton Poage, at left, and Alex Sparkman, at right, brought their eight-week-old English bulldog puppies to share the Relay experience. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

The Hilbilly Hunters team was named the Rookie Team of the Year. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

The Monett Elementary School team is introduced at Relay. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

Saying the Pledge of Allegiance during opening ceremonies at Relay. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

Tracy Schallert, at left, and Helen Ruscha, at right, co-chairpersons of this year's Relay for Life, gave a greeting during opening ceremonies on Friday. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

A victory lap by cancer survivors provided the highlight of the opening ceremonies in the 17th annual Monett Relay for Life, the fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, held on Friday and Saturday morning at Burl Fowler Stadium. Survivors received applause as they walked around the track. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

Survivors receive applause as they round the first curve on their lap around Burl Fowler Stadiuim. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

Rounding the last turn on the survivor's lap, led by a color guard from the Junior ROTC from the Southwest Area Career Center. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

The PlayPower team from Monett's Miracle Recreation Equipment plant in Monett are introduced at Relay. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

The Inspired by Isaac team at Relay. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

The Monett Elementary School team camp site. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

Frank and Mary Thompson made a significant donation of hair to Locks of Love at Relay, to be made into wigs for cancer patients. Shown from left are: stylist Dionne Zebert, Frank Thompson, stylist Alexa Kristek and Mary Thompson. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

Frank Thompson donated his 17-inch pony tail to Locks for Love during the Relay. Dionne Zebert, at left, from Christine's House of Style, cut his hair. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

Mary Thompson is handed the 11 1/2 inches of hair she had cut off for Locks of Love as part of the Relay for Life. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

Baskets of elaborately decorated donated items again made a popular attraction for the silent auction. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

Relay participants gathered in the bleachers at Burl Fowler Stadium to view the slide show during the luminaria ceremony. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

Luminaries around the track lit up the night for walkers at the Relay for Life. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

Lighted luminaries on the Burl Fowler track edge. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

The view of the screen and the darkened track shining with candles during the luminary ceremony at Relay. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

Lighted luminaria on the track for Relay. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

Relay co-chairperson Helen Ruscha leading the candlelight vigil around the Burl Fowler Stadium track during Relay for Life. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

Carrying a candle in the candlelight vigil at Relay. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

Preparing to walk around the stadium track carrying candles during the luminaria ceremony was Maurie Watson, at right, with her sons, Remy, at left, and Colton, at center. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

Tracie Snodgrass meditated with her candle during the luminaria ceremony. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

View of the candlelight vigil rounding the track during Relay. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

The launching of candle-powered Chinese lanterns called sky lanterns as memories made a striking sight against the night sky at Relay. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

One of the sky lanterns, purchased as a memorial, takes flight. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)

Four contestants put on dresses and competed through fundraising for the title of Relay queen. Participating, from left, were: "Macy Freese," AKA Mason Schallert from Cardinals for a Cure; Tarzana, AKA Dan Withers from the PlayPower team; KeeKee Urban, the alleged sister of country music star Keith Urban, AKA Jarred Ratley from the Tyson Foods team; and Miss J.C., AKA Chris Unzner, from the Monett Jaycees team. KeeKee Urban won the title for the Tyson team. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)