Andalusia resident Jay Farrington couldn’t help be overcome with emotion when he walked with his girls during the care givers lap of the Covington County Relay For Life event Friday night.

Jay, along with his wife, Beverly, and daughters, Allison and Jennifer, took the final steps of their victory lap together.

“They took care of me,” Jay said. “Your immune system goes down. They protected and took care of me.”

Jay is “100 percent” free from having Hodgkins lymphoma. He went through chemotherapy for 6-7 months.

“Your life can change just like that (makes snapping noise),” he said.

Jay was at a birthday party when his sister-in-law noticed that his neck was swollen. Beverly noticed it, too.

Hodgkins lymphoma attacks the lymphocites in the lymph nodes.

Jay’s last cancer treatment was last March

Before the care givers took their lap, the cancer survivors had their turn.

Jay said it was a “humbling” experience.

“You understand that life is a gift,” he said.