Businesses go purple for cancer awareness

Tobé Poynter, owner of Mulberry Florist in Elizabethtown, knows many of her customers have been touched by cancer.

Neal Cardin

A pair of personalized purple ribbons, for cancer awareness, sit Tuesday in front of the Sonora Florist shop as part of the Paint the Town Purple in promotion for this weekend's Relay for Life at Central Hardin High School. The Sonora Merchants Association is selling the wooden purple ribbons to help raise money for Relay for Life.

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Neal Cardin

Purple ribbons surround signs, furniture and entrance to Carol's Antiques and Flowers on Main Street in Sonora.

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Neal Cardin

Pedestrians walk under the purple ribbons decorating the Huddleston House entrance Tuesday on Public Square in Elizabethtown.

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Neal Cardin

Purple balloons tied to cars Tuesday at the Swope Toyota dealership in Elizabethtown.

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“It’s close to a lot of families,” she said.

She and her sister, who works with her, are glad their mother beat the disease 11 years ago. That victory made them eager to sign up for Paint the Town Purple, an event organized by Relay For Life.

“Cancer doesn’t discriminate,” Poynter said. “I feel like this is something we should be involved in.’’

Participating home and business owners are decorating the outside of their buildings this week with purple to promote cancer awareness.

The decorations will be judged Thursday. Winners will be announced during Relay, which is Friday and Saturday at Central Hardin High School.

Organizers hope the new competition will raise awareness about cancer and encourage area residents to attend and donate to the event. Donations go toward cancer research and area programs that support those diagnosed with cancer.

Poynter hung a wreath and large ribbons of purple netting on the business’s front wall and a wreath and snaked netting around a large window. She said people have stopped by while she had her decorations up to ask where she got her materials and how they can participate in the event.

She said she hopes who passers by see the decorations and want to get involved with the effort to fight cancer.

Steve Phillips, manager of Auto Detail and More in Elizabethtown, said he hopes those who see the decorations this week at all Swope locations will have similar thoughts.

Phillips said some sale associates have been affected by cancer, and he knows customers and other members of the community have as well.

“I just think it’s the right thing to do for the community,” he said.

George Sadler’s business, Sonora Farm Supply, was decorated with six purple bows on posts in front of the building even though it isn’t expected to be open for another week.

Sadler said his family hasn’t been affected by cancer, but he knows others who have and considers it an important issue.

“We just try to support the community,” he said.

Sadler’s daughter, who participates in Relay, heard about the event and told her father about it. He agreed to decorate his unopened business.

“I just think you have to give something back to the community,” he said. “People support you. I think you have to give it back.”

Amber Coulter can be reached at (270) 505-1746 or acoulter@thenewsenterprise.com.