Photo Courtesy Sherry Spangler Photography
Marion County is a close-knit community with a heart as big as the valley is wide and as gold as it they come. And if you need proof of that statement, the turnout to the last night’s “Marion County Unites for Kennedy” event at the Jasper fairgrounds should be proof enough!
The event started as an idea on a local Facebook buy-sell-trade group, spearheaded by local resident Amanda Carter, and grew to an event that reached even beyond the realms of the Facebook community. Thousands of people as well as local TV station WRCB, and radio stations US-101 and Hit 96 showed up at last night’s event to show their love and support of 15-year old Kennedy Griffith.
Kennedy, the 15-year old daughter of Marion County School Superintendent Mark Griffith, has been battling cancer for the past three years. She has recently been undergoing treatments at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, where it was recently learned that doctors have run out of effective treatment options. However, “The Warrior,” (as so many call her) has kept the positive, strong, and brave attitude that so many have come to know of Kennedy.
The idea behind last night’s event was to assemble as many people possible at the fairgrounds in an arrangement that spelled out a message of well wishes for the girl, which would be visible from a fly over for an aerial photograph for her.
Local photographer, Sherry Spangler, took to the air with pilot Ed Seay and the photo was a success!
Kennedy and her parents Mark and Pam are scheduled to return home from Texas next Friday and close friends of the family say she’ll be traveling in style, riding home in a limousine.
For more on Kennedy’s story, click here to read her CaringBridge journal.
Organizers and volunteers wish to thank all who was able to participate and show their support at the event.
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By: Logan Carmichael, Publisher/Writer
