Rotary Program: 1/06/04

Program Chairperson: Danny Coleman

Speaker: Dena Potter, Co-Chairperson - Relay For Life Cancer Fund Raiser

Danny Coleman and Dena Potter of the Appalachian News Express are Co-Chairs of the Recruiting Committee for the 2004 Relay-For-Life Cancer Fund Raising Project in Pike County. They presented a program today to make us familiar with the objectives of the Pike County Relay-For-Life, which is the largest local fund raising effort by the American Cancer Society. It has been well attended and supported by our community for several years. Statistically, cancer, in all its forms, is the number one health concern and the second leading cause of death in the U.S. In Pike County in 2000, 368 persons were diagnosed with some form of cancer. That included 32 men with prostate cancer, 53 women with breast cancer, 74 people with lung cancer, and 53 people with colon cancer. Of that number, 166 people in Pike County lost their lives to this dreaded disease. Lung cancer claimed 66 people, 19 died of colo-rectal cancer, 19 died of breast cancer, and 6 deaths were reportedly due to prostate cancer. These numbers are what Cancer Relay-For-Life is all about. All the money raised goes directly to the American Cancer Society and is used for research in the quest to find a cure and save as many lives as possible with the most up-to-date treatments available. Some programs supported by Relay-For-Life funds include “Reach To Recovery”, a volunteer visitation program, and “Look Good - Feel Better”, which provides wigs and turbans for women who lose their hair, helping them feel better about their appearance when they go out in public while under treatment. Other services such as transportation to treatment centers, reimbursement for travel expenses, and gift items for cancer patients, especially for children who are cancer victims, are also supported by these funds.

Teams are recruited from businesses and other organizations in the community and at least one member is walking for the entire 12 hours. Areas are set up by the teams and decorated with some kind of theme as a competition for a prize for the best theme. Other contests take place during the night and teams try to see who can raise the most money for the event. Luminaries are placed around the track to honor those who have survived and to memorialize those who have been victims to cancer. There were 35 Relay-For-Life teams last year and the goal was to raise $ 68,000.00, but the teams raised $ 81,000.00. This year the goal is for 45 teams and to raise

$ 90,000.00. This year’s event will take place at the Bob Amos Park on May 14th and 15th from 6:00 P.M. on Friday night until 6:00 A.M. on Saturday. At this point, a video was shown to give us some ideas of how Relay-For-Life is done in other communities. Danny and Dena sent around sign-up sheets and encouraged all Rotarians to get involved with Relay-For-Life this year. Thanks Danny and Dena for your inspiring program today. Submitted by J. Morgan Chapman.