Relay for Life: Cancer never sleeps

[ozma914]

My stepfather was recently diagnosed with bladder and prostate cancer (some of you might remember that the doctors have been keeping a close eye on me due to high Prostate Specific Antigen [PSA] levels), so this is a bit personal to me, this year.

 

The Noble County Relay For Life has its first sponsors for the 2012 season – but that’s just the beginning.

 This year’s annual American Cancer Society fundraiser will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 19, at its regular site: The West Noble High School track and football field, south of Ligonier along US 33.

 But the 2012 Relay kickoff comes on Thursday, February 9th^th, from 6:30-8 p.m. at The Noble County Public Library’s Cole Meeting room, in the lower level of the library. This year’s Relay theme is Happy Birthday; let’s fight back and celebrate many more Birthdays to come. We will be recognizing any cancer survivor that comes, and signing up teams for our event.

 

Cancer never sleeps, so Relays are overnight events, lasting up to 24 hours, in which teams raise funds to fight the disease and they take turns keeping on the track to celebrate those who’ve battled cancer, remember those lost, and fight back. Each year more than 3.5 million people in 5,000 US communities and 20 other countries take part in Relay events to raise funds for research, treatment, and other assistance.

 Team members are encouraged to find varying ways to raise funds, and at the Relay itself they often camp out around the track (although members aren’t required to be there the whole time), and take part in food, games, and activities. More information can be found on the Relay For Life website at:  http://www.relayforlife.org/noblecountyin 

 Or by contacting Noble County Chairperson Carla Fiandt at carlaf@csbemail.com or  260-636-3744;

 ACS Representive Melissa Stephens at melissa.stephens@cancer.org or 260-471-3911;

 Team Recruitment Stacey Lang at esclang@hotmail.com or 260-894-1418’

 Or Survivors chair Luana Walker 260-636-7337.

 

Please come to our kickoff meeting and lets make this a great year.  We need to band together and fight back.  There has been many lives touched by cancer this past year and this is our part in fighting back for our survivors and for those that have lost their battle.

 While Relay participants have fun, it’s for an important cause, and much help is still needed to make the event a success. The Relay is looking not only for teams, but for committee members and other help in a variety of areas.

 

 

I walked around a track today

I walked to help a disease go away

I walked because there is a need

I walked so that bodies could be freed

I walked to give a small child hope

I walked to help someone cope

I walked for a husband or wife

I walked with my head held high

I walked for that one about to die

I walked excitedly, not demure

I walked to help find a cure

I walked for everyone to see

I walked for you

I walked for me

 

Comments

[shinsetsu]

I have a very low opinion of the American Cancer Society--and I am not alone. This article might make you think of them and their use of the money they receive in a different light. And I hope they help you more than they did my friend.

http://www.preventcancer.com/losing/acs/wealthiest_links.htm

[ozma914]

I'm sorry you feel that way, and certainly there are dangers when any organization starts to get too big. Here on the local level (which is where our money goes) I've seen nothing but good things and wonderful people.

[shinsetsu]

I meant also to say that I hope you took a look at that link about the breakthrough Belfast treatment for prostate cancer I left on your Facebook. Sometimes one dr can arrange for his patient to participate in trials (I think) if possible and if it might help.

[ozma914]

I certainly did -- looks very promising! My stepdad's cancer started in the bladder and spread to the prostate, so that treatment might not be the right one for him, but I've passed the info on to him and my mom, and my urologist.

[shinsetsu]

I just saw this is the news:

Cooked tomatoes shown to slow growth of prostate cancer cells

A nutrient in cooked tomatoes has been shown in laboratory studies to slow the growth of — and even kill — prostate cancer cells, scientists have said...[more]

[ozma914]

I've been following up on that information for some time -- we put a lot of cooked tomato products in our food, here! It's it strange how, for once, something can be healthier for you cooked than raw?