In honor of outstanding contributions in the fight against cancer, American Cancer Society (ACS) recently presented the volunteers of Relay For Life of Clarke County a Midwest Division Community of Hope Award at the 2013 Southeast Iowa Leadership Conference held in Oskaloosa.
The Community of Hope Award is presented annually to a Relay For Life community that demonstrates leadership, initiative and creativity to successfully implement mission related activities in order to positively impact the cancer burden and increase American Cancer Society awareness in their community.
“The American Cancer Society recognizes and appreciates when volunteers understand the importance of showing others how the society is active in their community, helping friends and families every day,” said Cathy Struecker, ACS Relay For Life specialist. “The volunteers of the Relay For Life of Clarke County did just that this year.”
The communities in Clarke County increased awareness of the American Cancer Society and its mission to fight back against cancer with a determination to start a Relay event in their community.
Through the leadership of Karen Irwin, Clarke County successfully recruited committed volunteers to plan an event that most in the community had never heard of or experienced before.
These volunteers recruited 24 teams and more than 200 individuals to be a part of the event, raising nearly $22,000 as a first-year event.
This overnight event was not deterred by the thunderstorm it faced just before the luminaria ceremony; teams moved indoors and continued to celebrate the night through.
The support the committee received from the school district, local businesses and organizations, local newspaper and community members was evident by the sheer number of people who showed up at the event to participate.
The date for this year's event is 6 p.m. Friday, June 13, to 6 a.m. Saturday, June 14. The committee is currently seeking volunteers to help plan this year's event. To be a part of helping this event succeed again this year or to start a team, visit www.RelayForLife.org/ClarkeCountyIA or call 641-572-0100.
Relay For Life is the world’s largest movement to end cancer, where each year more than 4 million people in more than 20 countries raise much-needed funds and awareness to save lives from cancer.