(Over the course of the next few weeks, the Lincoln Parish Journal is republishing some of its most memorable stories from the past year … some of our readers’ favorites).
by Hanna Singh
You may have wondered why all across Ruston, yellow ribbons have appeared on storefronts throughout the month of September.
In honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, many local businesses in Lincoln Parish have shown their support for the cause by hanging up the official yellow ribbon in solidarity with families and children facing childhood cancer.
What may look like a simple decoration has become a symbol of support for families in Ruston whose children have faced these challenges, and for the community that has rallied together for them.
According to the American Childhood Cancer Organization website, each year in the U.S. there are an estimated 15,780 children between the ages of birth and 19 years of age who are diagnosed with cancer. Approximately 1 in 285 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer before their 20th birthday.
Sheila Branch, owner of Chessy’s Boutique in downtown Ruston, shared how the ribbons hold a personal meaning for her.
“My cousin’s little boy had brain cancer. He has gone to St. Jude all his life, he is a survivor,” Branch said. “It is a very important cause to my family. We also know one of the little boys in Ruston who has gone through cancer treatments recently. We participated with the ribbons to show support for this cause that means something personal to us.”
Two of the children at the heart of this cause are Breck Owens, a student at Cedar Creek School, and Reed Pipes, a student at A.E. Phillips. Both boys have shown incredible courage in their battles with leukemia. Both have also witnessed the strength of the community pouring into their families.
Breck’s mother, Valerie Owens, shared how deeply the support from the town has impacted their family.
“Our son, Breck, was diagnosed with Leukemia in January for the second time, and he’s currently in the middle of treatment,” Owens said. “As you can imagine, this journey has been tough, but one of the things that has carried us is the incredible support we’ve felt from Cedar Creek and from the Ruston community as a whole.”
Cedar Creek held a Friday night event in Breck’s honor, filling the stadium with love and encouragement. Many members of the school community showed up in support of their classmate and friend.
The Pipes family has also been impacted by the overflow of support from the community. Reed’s mother, Lauren Pipes, spoke about the moment they first learned of his diagnosis.
“We immediately went to St. Jude the day after we found out he had leukemia. Ruston truly rallied around us while we were there for so long,” Pipes said. “Our daughter was eight at the time and we had to figure out challenges with taking care of her, getting her to school and back. A lot of people in town stepped up for us, sent us food, sent us cards, and took care of our house. We have felt so much support from the community.”
Reed’s school, A.E. Phillips, even held a “Go Gold Day” in recognition of Childhood Cancer Awareness, wearing gold in his honor. Last year, Reed also received encouragement from the Louisiana Tech “Lady Techsters”, the women’s basketball team.
Together, these stories show how Ruston embodies what it means to be not just a town, but a family. From store owners to schools and neighbors to sports teams, people in the community have chosen to stand in support with children and families affected by cancer.
After September, the yellow ribbons may come down, but the love and support are here to stay. The Lincoln Parish Community has proven that it will not let any family stand against these battles on their own.
