Amy Countiss, seated, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, is surrounded by Lamar High School Cheerleader members, from left, Rivers Countiss (her daughter), Caroline Martin and Sadie Wilkinson. Lamar's cheerleaders have organized a Dress Code Free Day that also includes Meridian and Lauderdale County's public and parochial schools. For $1, students will be allowed to wear acceptable attire for their school on April 23. Proceeds will go to Meridian's 2010 Relay For Life event in Amy Countiss' honor.

    We tend to learn from the bad things in life. And no one knows this better than someone who has been diagnosed with cancer.

    “I wouldn’t go as far as to say that I was lucky to be diagnosed with cancer, but I can honestly say that I am lucky that my journey is going well,” said Meridian resident Amy Countiss, who is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

    “I am so overwhelmed; I wish everybody who got cancer could live in Meridian. This town has wrapped its arms around me like no other,” said the mother of three.

    “I thought I knew everybody in Meridian, but when I go to chemotherapy every week, I meet some of the most wonderful people who have been such an inspiration and blessing to my life.”

    Countiss’ most recent overwhelming experience has been through the Lamar High School Cheerleader Team, which has organized a Dress Code Free Day not only for their school, but also Meridian and Lauderdale County’s public, parochial schools. Set for April 23, students who pay $1 will be allowed to wear the acceptable attire designated for their school. All proceeds will be donated in Countiss’ name to Meridian’s 2010 Relay For Life.

    According to Rhonda Poole, who works with the Lamar cheerleaders, the idea for Dress Code Free Day evolved from the team’s preparations for a Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) camp this summer at Mississippi State University.

    “Every UCA camp has a theme, and this year’s theme is ‘Team Spirit,'” Poole said. “You try to think outside of the box, because with team spirit everybody is going to show up in the school colors and have tattoos on their face.”

    Lamar’s cheerleaders came up with “Raiders for a Cure,” and members will wear pink T-shirts with the breast cancer symbol. They also will put tattoos of the breast cancer symbol on the other girls at camp and distribute brochures with information about breast cancer. Their inspiration was Countiss, whose daughter, Rivers, is also a member of the cheerleader team.

    “Amy has always kind of been a Team Mom to the girls,” Poole said. “She drives them to camp, orders T-shirts for them … She does anything and everything the girls need and they all love her.”

    As they made their plans, the cheerleaders decided that they wanted to do even more to not only increase awareness about breast cancer, but also raise funds for research and education. That’s when they decided to implement the Dress Code Free Day.

    “After we got permission to do it for our campus, we thought, ‘If we can do this, why can’t every school do it?” said Poole, who contacted Meridian and Lauderdale County’s superintendents, as well as officials at the area’s religion-based schools.

    Participating schools are: Russell Christian Academy, Calvary Christian School, St. Patrick Catholic School, Community Christian School, Clarkdale Elementary, Clarkdale Middle School, Clarkdale High School, Southeast High School, Southeast Middle School, West Lauderdale Elementary School, West Lauderdale Middle School; West Lauderdale High School, Crestwood Elementary School, Magnolia Middle School, Meridian High School, MHS Ninth Grade Academy, Parkview Elementary School, Poplar Springs Elementary School and TJ Harris Elementary School.

    Countiss said she is “blessed” by the community’s support.

    “Like I said, this has been such an amazing journey for me and my family,” she said.

    Poole said the goal is to make Dress Code Free Day an annual event to only benefit Relay For Life.

    “Think of the message that will be sent by this activity,” Poole said. “Not only will our children see that together we can make a difference in the fight against cancer, but they will also feel the power of being a leader in their school and community. By taking a stand against this monstrous disease – cancer – these young people are learning that even as a child, they can be positive contributors to the world around them.

    “If they just pay a dollar in order to be Dress Code Free, they take us one step closer to a cure,” Poole said.

Important Dates

    • May 2 – Survivors Reception, from 2 p.m.-4 p.m., Kahlmus Auditorium, Mississippi State University, Meridian. Event will include a silent auction for a 2009 Relay For Life Quilt.

    • May 7-8 – Relay For Life event, from 6 p.m. May 7 to 6 a.m. May 8, Northeast Park on Highway 39.

    Information about how to form a team or become involved in Relay For Life is available from the American Cancer Society at (800) ACS-2345, or visit www.RelayForLife.org