The Newton County Relay for Life Committee, alongside the Marks Family and Friends Relay Team, conducted the Paint the Square Purple Event for the first time ever. 

Businesses around the Covington square were encouraged to decorate their store fronts in purple for the weeks of April 12 – April 26, 2014, marking the final two weeks of the year-long Relay for Life fundraiser. The fundraiser culminates in the Relay for Life event at the Church at Covington Friday, April 25, lasting through Saturday, April 26.

Ribbons, paint and signs were all colored purple, in homage to the color the American Cancer Society uses to recognize the survivors who are still fighting cancer and those who have finished their fight.

Store owners were encouraged to show their support and raise awareness of these survivors.  They were also asked to help publicize the biggest fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, the actual Relay event.

“It was wonderful for the first year doing it,” said Brenda Stanton, a Relay for Life committee member. “We will want it to be an annual thing. It was really well received.”

Store fronts were judged by survivors Lisa Conner and Becky Byrum.  This year’s winner was Scoops, and its owner Susan Kirk was presented with a plaque. Awards were also presented to other businesses for “Best use of Store Products, Best Use of Relay Slogans, Best use of Purple, and “Most Original Window Design”.