TIFTON — Downtown Tifton’s Main Street was lined up and down with more than 400 decorated bags, each named after someone who has fought cancer, on the night of Friday, Sept. 3, as part of a nationwide ceremony to honor and support those affected by the disease.

Known as Lights of Hope Across America, the purpose of the event was not only to raise awareness of cancer and honor the memory and efforts of cancer’s victims and survivors, but also to raise funds to devoted to cancer-fighting policies and protect people across the country from the disease and help those whose lives have been impacted by it, organizers said.

Normally, the ceremony takes place in Washington, D.C., but with the threat of COVID-19, people wanting to participate in the event were encouraged for the past two years to organize smaller ceremonies in their towns as part of the bigger national event.

Lee Turner, a two-time cancer survivor, has been the engine behind organizing the ceremony in Tifton the last two years and is determined to help prevent others from facing the diagnosis he received while offering them support.

“Cancer doesn’t sleep,” Turner said. “We need this research and the funding from the NIH and the government to keep the research going and find a cure for cancer.”

In addition to the display in Tifton, bags from all over the state of Georgia were on display in Atlanta’s Liberty Plaza, right in front of the Georgia State Capitol.

Tifton’s local display will also be featured as part of the virtual event for Lights of Hope Across America on Sept. 18. It will showcase displays from towns and cities across the country.