By Emily Enfinger | The Selma Times-Journal

A full spectrum of lanterns floated and twinkled across Selma’s cool night air Thursday to honor cancer victims and survivors.

The Purple Bucket Team, which organizes the Relay For Life for Dallas County, hosted its second annual Rainbow the Sky event.

The program also served as the official kickoff for this spring’s Relay For Life 2016.

“It’s a way for people to honor people that they know who have passed from this horrible disease or to remember the ones who have fought it and survived,” said Keith Dismukes, who works at Trustmark Bank and is a Purple Bucket Team member.

In 2015, there were an estimated 26,150 new cancer cases in the state of Alabama and more than 1,600,000 nationwide, according to the American Cancer Association. That number excludes squamous and basal cell skin cancers.

Glenn Hollingshead and his 7-year-old granddaughter, Madelyn Stevens attended the Rainbow the Sky event for the first time after hearing about it on the radio.

“With grandkids and all, I think it is great. It gives them something to think about,” Hollingshead said.

The lanterns were sold for $10 each. Dismukes said the money raised is donated to the American Cancer Society for cancer research, treatment, education and support for those battling the disease.

According to the American Cancer Association, 95 percent of funding for cancer research comes from similar events across the country, bequests and corporate and personal donations. Just 1 percent comes from contracts and grants from government agencies.

Dismukes said the Black Belt region traditionally raises about half a million dollars for cancer research annually and nearly $100,000 in Selma and Dallas County alone.

The local Relay For Life raised $92,143 during this year’s drive back in April at Riverfront Park. Events across the United States have raised a total of $4.25 billion from 1985 through 2011.

Jack Towns, 22, and a group of friends came to the event out of curiosity after seeing the lanterns and were happy when they realized it was for a good cause.

Towns said he didn’t know anyone to dedicate a lantern to but stayed to support those who have faced cancer.

“You never know when it could happen to anybody you know or to you,” Towns said.

For more information about or making donations to the American Cancer Society, visit www.cancer.org.

For more information about Relay For Life for Selma and Dallas County, contact Tina Yelverton at (334) 654-7019.