How Relay For Life Helps Leon County Cancer Patients

Within the American Cancer Society There’s a saying “Fundraising is not all we do, but everything we do depends on it.”So, in the midst of our high time in our fundraising efforts, let’s look at the FREE services the American Cancer Society provides to Survivors right here in Leon County.

In the fight against cancer, the American Cancer Society places great importance on cancer patient services – hoping to ease cancer’s impact on people’s lives. The fact that people are surviving cancer today more than ever before reinforces the need to help survivors get back into life’s mainstream.

“Your American Cancer Society provides the latest information about cancer and guidance to local community resources,” says Amanda Skelton, Survivor Chair. “Programs, services, emotional support and materials to cancer patients and their families are available at no direct cost through fund- raising events like Relay For Life.” The American Cancer Society helps people with cancer all across Leon County through the toll free number that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. By calling 1-800-ACS-2345, a cancer information specialist can offer assistance.

Resources can also be found on the American Cancer Society’s web site at www. cancer.org. With the click of a mouse, patients, survivors and caregivers can log onto the Cancer Survivors Network and seek support. The site offers discussion groups, personal stories, communication with others via email and resources such as suggested books, articles and web sites.

During the last year the society has assisted Leon County residents through the following tangible services. 26 gift items such as comfort pillows, turbans, hats, scarves and nutritional supplements, 13 wigs, 19 breast related items, 52 gas cards, 1 guestroom service, 19 personal health managers and 86 information contacts. Also last year 6 residents took advantage of the quit line to help them quit smoking.

In addition to these tangible services the American cancer Society trains individual volunteers to assist the needs of cancer patients. Volunteers, who have experienced cancer, visit patients and their families to support them in adjusting to their diagnosis, The Reach to Recovery program is for breast cancer patients. Martha Moses, a volunteer you may have read about in a previous addition, is currently the only trained Leon County Reach to Recovery volunteer. Last year she assisted 3 Leon county residents with this service. Other volunteer services provided by the ACS that Leon county residents took advantage of last year were Road to Recovery, where volunteer drivers transport patients to and from their doctor visits and cancer treatment when they are not able to drive themselves. And Look Good Feel Better Makeovers, which is provide by volunteer beauty professionals who provide female cancer patients beauty tips to look better and feel good about how they look during chemotherapy and radiation treatments. The ACS also trains volunteers to facilitate support groups that help cancer survivors and their families. The ACS is currently training a Leon county volunteer to be an I Can Cope facilitator the support group is expected to be available during late Spring.

So you see, it’s WAY more than just fundraising!!! But we MUST fundraise to keep serving Leon county patients and their families! So get out there and Fight Back by Relaying, fundraising, and if you can spare an hour or two a month, by volunteering to help one on one with patients too!

The American Cancer Society’s 5th Annual Relay For Life of Leon County will be held on Friday, April 16, 2010 at Buffalo High School’s Brewer Field. To learn how you can participate call Kristy Vandegriff at 903- 388-0270 or Amanda Skelton at 903-391-3601. If you or a member of your family is in need of these services, or if you want to volunteer or need more information, please call our area American Cancer Society office at 979-776- 1464 or 1-800-ACS-2345.

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide, community based, voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy, and patient services