In celebration of the 38th annual National Volunteer Week, the American Cancer Society recognizes and celebrates the efforts of its more than three million volunteers nationwide who have helped make a difference for people facing cancer since 1913. In DeKalb County, over 200 volunteers give their time and talent to fight back against this disease either through being a Relay For Life Committee Member or being on a Relay For Life Team.
“Volunteers are the foundation of the American Cancer Society,” said Denise Hackett, ACS Community Representative. Volunteers have been crucially important in enabling the American Cancer Society to help people facing cancer since we were founded in 1913. As we celebrate this week, I want to thank each of our volunteers in DeKalb County for dedicating their time and energy to our cancer-fighting mission. We are so grateful for the Society volunteers of yesterday, today and tomorrow, as they are helping save lives and create a world with less cancer and more birthdays for future generations to come.”
Volunteers contribute to helping people stay well, get well, find cures and fight back against cancer through a variety of roles, efforts and American Cancer Society programs, including:
•Relay For Life- More than three million Americans (including 500,000 cancer survivors) participate nationally in the Society’s signature overnight community event. Volunteer teams celebrate the lives of those touched by cancer, remember loved ones and fight back against a disease that takes too much.
•Patient programs and services- Dedicated Society volunteers provide direct assistance and service to help people stay well and get well in a variety of ways. Our volunteers provide one-on-one support as survivors to newly diagnosed patients through our Reach To Recovery program. Our volunteers also help women with the treatment related-side effects by teaching them skills to help their appearance through our Look Good…Feel Better program. We also provide a camping experience for children who have cancer and their siblings at Camp Horizon each year.
•Legislative advocacy- The Society’s advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, has grassroots volunteer networks of hundreds of thousands of volunteers who successfully work to fight back against cancer and send strong messages to lawmakers about issues that matter to people touched by cancer.
The American Cancer Society listens, shares, heals and nurtures a spirit of hope and a culture of caring through volunteerism. To learn more about how you can save lives while fulfilling your own through volunteering, visit our Web site, www.cancer.org/volunteer.
Please join us in our Fight Against Cancer on Friday, June 3rd for The DeKalb County Relay For Life at Greenbrook Park in Smithville.
(Pictured Above left to right: Carolyn Reynolds, Ivadel Randolph, Violet Fuson, Ron Gray, Jeff McMillen, Eva Willoughby, and Barbara Ashford)
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