The past weekend’s first-ever American Cancer Society Relay For Life® of Clarke County raised $22,483 to support the society’s mission of saving lives from cancer.
More than 200 volunteers walked from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday. The weather was not cooperative and a dangerous thunderstorm with lighting and rain forced the event to move into the high-school gym where teams continued to walk laps throughout the night.
“Through their hard work in preparing for the event, and by spending hours walking for the cause, Clarke County residents certainly did their part to help the American Cancer Society create a world with less cancer and more birthdays,” said Karen Irwin, volunteer chair for the 2013 Relay For Life.
The top individual fundraiser was Irwin, who collected $1,050 in donations. The top fundraising team was Nancy and Ann's Sisters, led by Diane Ogbourne and Ronda Wishon, which raised $2,750. Donations can still be accepted at www.relayforlife.org/clarkecountyia.
More than 220 people, represented by 26 teams, participated in this year’s relay event. The teams were comprised of area families, faith-based groups, businesses, clubs and other organizations.
“More than 50 people in Clarke County alone will face a cancer diagnosis this year,” said Irwin. “And, it’s critical that we come together during Relay (for Life) to help the American Cancer Society achieve its mission of saving lives by helping people stay well, by helping people get well, by finding cures and by fighting back.”
The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Clarke County was made possible by Hy-Vee, Lakeside Casino, Miller Products, Chat Mobility, Bud Jones Construction, Clark’s Tree and Stump Removal, State Farm – Teri Johnston, Stoney Oak Properties, Brian & Kathy Evans, Highway Lumber, Osceola Farm and Home, Osceola Vision, Solutions, Earth Angels, Medicap Pharmacy, King’s Canyon Art & Bistro, Osceola Foods, South Central Communications, Superior Construction, Decatur County Hospital, White’s Woodworking, Osceola Vet Clinic, Subway Highway 34 West, Andrew Construction Co, Clarke Community High School, Osceola Volunteer Fire Department, Pizza Hut, Casey’s and Fareway. Special thanks to Mike Egbert, Mike Kline, Pastor Chuck DeVos, Hope Lowry, American Legion Color Guard, Chris’s Photography and LuAnn’s Portraits in Motion Photography, .
If people would like to learn more about Relay for Life or be on the planning committee for the 2014 Relay for Life of Clarke County, contact Karen Irwin at 641-572-0100.
The American Cancer Society has nearly a century of experience of saving lives and ending suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than 300 volunteers, it fights for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community.
The organization saves lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight.
It is the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing about $3.4 billion. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about the organization or to get help, call anytime at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.