Celebrate...Remember....and Fight Back!

"We live in the 'Bible Belt,' and we also live in a "Cancer Belt," said Relay for Life volunteer and cancer survivor Garland Cockram at the recent kickoff of the 2008 American Cancer Society Relay for Life Campaign in Patrick County. Cockram noted that his church, Woolwine United Methodist Church, has recently lost 3 of its members to cancer. "We have to fight this thing," he added with determination. Garland is right! It seems that the incidence of cancer in our community is rising rapidly, and it is time once again to do something about it.

This statistic is numbing. One of every three people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Even if you are one of the two lucky ones who are fortunate enought to remain cancer free, almost certainly a loved one or dear friend of yours will have hear the chilling words, "you have cancer." Cancer affects us all in some way, shape, form, or fashion. It is time to "fight back" and come together as a community to do our part in the effort to wipe out this dreaded disease.

The American Cancer Society's Relay for Life cancer crusade in Patrick County is underway as teams of volunteers throughout our community hold fund-raising events to raise money to fund the research that it will take to find a cure and to provide vital services to cancer patients and their faithful caregivers in our community. The theme of the 2008 Relay for Life drive is "Celebrate...Remember...and Fight Back! Please join the fight against cancer locally, and "celebrate" the lives of our many cancer survivors and caregivers who serve as an example of courage and determination to us all; "remember" those who have fought so galantly but have lost their lives to cancer and in whose memory we battle for a cure; and "fight back" against cancer so that our children and grandchildren and succeeding generations can enjoy their lives free of this killing scourge.

You can "fight back" against cancer in many ways here in Patrick County. Please join one of the existing relay teams which have been formed by individuals, churches, businesses, schools, civic organizations, government agencies, and other groups in our community. Better yet, start a new team by recruiting your friends, colleagues, peers, and neighbors as members and plan some activities to raise funds and to educate the community about cancer prevention. Be creative! You can also "fight back" by supporting the fund-raising efforts of other teams (car washes; spaghetti dinners; bake and yard sales; and any number of other events that could be used to raise money for this cause). The goal for the 2008 Relay for Life fund drive in Patrick County is $52,050, which American Cancer Society Community Manager Robin Minter called "very attainable." With your involvement and just a little bit of work by everyone, we can far exceed that goal and even top our $62,000 plus record total of last year.

One of the first fund-raisers of the 2008 cancer crusade here will take place Saturday, Jan. 26th when "Relay for Life" volunteers will provide the concessions at the Patrick County Music Associaiton Jamboree at Rotary Field, Stuart. Doors open at 4 p.m. We will be serving hamburgers, hotdogs, chips or fries, barbecue, grilled chicken, along with homemade desserts and soft drinks, bottled water, coffee, hot chocolate, and Russian tea. Come hungry and enjoy the food, fellowship, and down home music.

Also mark your calendars for Friday, May 16, when WHEO radio's Relay for Life team, the Kilowatts for a Cure, presents "12 Hours for A Cure," the second annual radio-thon to raise funds to fight cancer. Last year's radio-thon...a day long event featuring live music by local artists and interviews with cancer survivors....raised well over $17,000. I think we can reach $20,000 this year with your help. Musicians that would like to perform during the radio-thon may call me at 694-3114 to schedule a time to perform on the radio. The radio-thon will be followed by the annual Relay for Life event on Sat., May 17th at Dehart Park in Stuart, a touching family-oriented event that everyone will enjoy.

The most important way that you can support the Relay for Life cancer crusade in our community is to pray for the event, for the many Relayers, the volunteers who devote their time and energy for this wonderful cause, for the teams that are participating, and for the researchers who are continuing the search for a cure that is being funded by dollars raised here in our community.

Not only does Relay for Life money go to research for a cancer cure, it benefits many cancer patients and caregivers in our community through programs and services that are available to help them. One such program is "Road to Recovery" that is available to any cancer patient undergoing treatment. Volunteers provide free transportation for cancer patients to and from their treatment appointments. Another such program funded by dollars raised by Patrick County Relayers is "Look Good...Feel Better" which benefits female cancer patients. This program teaches beauty techniques to women undergoing treatment to help them combat the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatments. "Reach to Recovery" provides one-on-one visitation for women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Trained breast cancer survivors offer support and information. "Man to Man" is a program for prostate cancer patients. This is an education and support group for men diagnosed with prostate cancer and their loved ones. It offers information about cancer diagnosis, treatment, and management of prostate cancer. "Dietician-on-Call" is available to cancer patients, family members, caregivers, and health professionals and provides nutritional information regarding the management of cancer treatment side effects. The "Cancer Survivor's Network" provides an outlet to cope with the challenges and emotions of living with cancer. Patients, survivors, and caregivers can join and network with others going through similar experiences from around the world.

Those are just some of the good things that are possible because of our involvement in the fight against cancer in our own community. Won't you get involved! Please join me and others who are passionate about defeating cancer and "Celebrate...Remember...and Fight Back"! For information on how you can get involved in in the war on cancer in our community, call me at (276) 694-3114 or call 1-800-ACS-2345, or visit www.cancer.org. Let's get "ready to Relay". It is going to be a banner year in the fight to eradicate cancer from the face of the earth.

I am personally involved in the fight against cancer in loving memory of my wife Sandra Merritt Rogers, who passed away on July 25, 2006, after a long and courageous fight against cancer. Her struggle against cancer was not in vain because she serves as an example of courage, grace, and love that inspires me to "fight back"! What is your reason for getting involved, a spouse, a child, your family, for everyone in the community, for whom or what? Please consider why you too should "fight back" and join me as a Relay for Life volunteer crusader.

May God bless our efforts to make a way for a cancer-free tomorrow!

Kilowatt for a Cure,
Richard Rogers