Good news was in abundance in the pages of The Daily Leader this past week. From cross country champs to breast cancer survivors, if you were looking for uplifting stories, we had them. Below is a look back at some of those headlines.

• The Brookhaven High Panthers dominated the podium at the Region 3-5A cross-country meet Wednesday at Choctaw Trails in Clinton. Both teams took home the team competitions while also grabbing the top four individual times. Freshman Aubrey Britt of Loyd Star went back-to-back on Wednesday with her second consecutive Region 3-2A Cross Country Championship. Britt took the top spot with a time of 20 minutes, 40 seconds. Brookhaven Academy sixth-grader Ainsley Orr finished ninth overall in the MAIS AA girls’ state cross-country championship Tuesday at Choctaw Trails in Clinton. Orr finished with a time of 24 minutes, 35 seconds.

• Melanie Purvis Moak battled breast cancer and won. She now helps other women starting the fight she began four years ago. She looks for them on social media, and people who know her call her to speak to other women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. She offers advice, encouragement, brings them meals and tries to give them the courage to do battle. “People automatically think, when they hear someone has cancer, that it’s a death sentence. But people need to realize, you can make it,” Moak said. “I’m not any different than anybody else. You just have to believe. You’ll be better and stronger after the ‘marathon’ is over.”

• King’s Daughters Medical Center hosted a “Think Pink” luncheon Thursday. The event provided information about cancer treatment and prevention.

• The Brookhaven VFW is honoring the Patriot Guard Riders at its open house planned for Nov. 3. The annual event will be held at the Capt. Danny D. Entrican Post at 728 Industrial Park Road NE from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The VFW post hosts the open house as a fundraiser and also relies on donations and proceeds from renting their building for events to cover program costs. Last year, the open house raised about $6,000 from plate and raffle ticket sales.

• Aly Floyd, 17, was recently selected as Miss Merry Christmas. The senior from Loyd Star High School was chosen by a panel of judges Monday night as the holiday ambassador for the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce. Over the next two months, Floyd, the daughter of John and Tina Floyd, will visit restaurants and shops participating in the annual Christmas Open House, attend Chamber events, make appearances and ride in the Christmas parade.