If you think you’ve been seeing purple around town recently, you’re right. As the 2013 DeSoto County Relay for Life approaches this weekend at DeSotoVeterans Park, local businesses have helped support us in “turning the town purple.”

The nationwide Relay for Life celebrates its 100th birthday this year. Purple is the signature color calling attention to the mission of remembering, honoring, or celebrating those who have been touched with a diagnosis of cancer. Over the past 100 years, ground-breaking strides in research have been made, saving lives by providing sophisticated treatments to cure or ease the pain and suffering caused by cancer. Trained professionals and state-of-the art equipment throughout the years have made possible early intervention after a diagnosis. Many individual services to patients were also made available.