Story by Karen Parr-Moody

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Strands of holiday lights will brighten a large Christmas tree at Gateway Medical Center at 5 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 8. This is when guests who donate money for tree lights to the American Cancer Society can see the bulbs sparkle on the tree.

Those who can’t attend the event can still make donations throughout December by calling the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345. Lights are $5 per bulb and $100 per strand. According to Jerri Rule, the community representative for the American Cancer Society, people can send an acknowledgement of their gift by way of a card to their honoree or the honoree’s family.

“We’ve had some people who have bought strands of lights before, just for a Christmas present for somebody,’ said Rule, noting that the donations don’t necessarily have to be for a family affected by cancer. “They’ll say, ‘Well, this is for this family and it’s just for a Christmas gift.’ And they’ll send an acknowledgement.”

But attending the annual event is its own special joy, according to Lynne Griffey, who is the event’s local organizer. “A lot of folks start crying, it’s just so emotional,” Griffey said.

Griffey, a retired schoolteacher and a painter, has created a pastel artwork that shows a little girl the tree. “She’s seeing the love the tree depicts,” Griffey said.
During the event, $40 prints of this pastel artwork will be sold for fundraising, as well as a box of 10 notecards for $10. There will also be CDs of the “Love Lights a Tree” song on sale for $5; these were created by John Nicolosi of the local firm Niko Records. “All of these monies are given to the American Cancer Society,” Griffey said.

During the event, guests can stand inside in the warmth of the hospital while the tree is lit outside. (Guests should enter the hospital’s main entrance, at 651 Dunlop Lane, and walk down the hallway the left). Hot cider and cookies will be served and Nicolosi will perform the music.

The fundraising lights of Love Lights a Tree first began here in 1989, led by Wanda Burchett, who will greet the crowd for the ceremony, which runs about 20 minutes. Pastor Jimmy Terry will conduct the invocation. Emily Carney, last year’s honoree for the event, will be on hand as the new honoree is announced.

“He puts his own special touch to it and that involves music,” Griffey said.

Karen Parr-Moody began a career as a New York journalist, working as a fashion reporter for Women’s Wear Daily, a beauty editor for Young Miss and a beauty and fashion writer for both In Style and People magazines. Regionally, she has been a writer at The Leaf-Chronicle newspaper and currently writes about arts and culture for Nashville Arts magazine each month.