Over $63K raised in the fight against cancer
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Hundreds of volunteers and residents, including many cancer survivors, are now taking a well deserved rest after walking throughout the night as part of the American Cancer Society Relay For Life celebration at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Sparta.
"This community really demonstrated a tremendous amount of spirit and generosity a few weeks ago," said April Easton, volunteer event chair. "I think that we all felt the power and hope of having so many cancer survivors at our side and the many luminaria that lit our way throughout the night. Knowing that cancer never sleeps, kept us focused and inspired to raise as much money as possible to help save lives and to walk around the clock in honor of those in our community who have been touched by cancer."
"The money raised at Relay For Life of Randolph County will help fund American Cancer Society programs to assist area residents take steps to prevent cancer, get well when cancer strikes, fund the research that helps us better understand and prevent cancer, and fight back by empowering our voices and working with lawmakers to pass laws to defeat this disease," said Easton. "Relay is all about hope and the many birthday celebrations we have to look forward to now and in the future thanks to our continuing efforts."
Relay For Life of Randolph County helps support programs that help people get well. This includes the American Cancer Society's Patient Navigation Services, which offers a place where cancer patients and their families can meet face-to-face with a case manager to discuss questions and concerns about diagnosis including subjects such as possible treatment, financial assistance, family counseling, insurance support, and clinical trials. Other area programs Relay helps make possible include Road to Recovery, a program that provides cancer patients with transportation to and from treatments; Look Good…Feel Better®, which walks women through make-up and hair tips to help them cope with the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments; Wig Banks, which offer free wigs, turbans and head wear; and Support for Recovery, which matches newly diagnosed patients with cancer survivors to help them cope with their diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer please contact Randolph County Patient Service Liaison, Linda Schulz at 618-282-3381 , or your local American Cancer Society office at 618-998-9898, option 3 or go online to www.illinoiscancerhelp.org .