July 18, 2006

Relay for Life - Shirley James

Shirley James, cancer survivor and State Relay Task Team co-Chair, addressed the club about Relay for Life and this year's local campaign held in June at the New Bremen High School Athletic Facility.  She has served as chair of the local Relay for the past 4 years and will be a local representative to a National celebration in Washington called Celebration on the Hill on September 19-21.  The task team monitors all of the Relay activities held in the State of Ohio.

This year, 37 teams and 473 registered wlakers participated to raise $126K against a goal of $146K.  Although the goal was not achieved, she is generally satisfied with the amount raised in this area.  She is pleased that although the Relay organization allows 8% of proceeds to be used for expenses, the local Relay has used only 5%.  This translates to more money being directly forwarded for use in cancer research.

The Rotary club once again sponsored two teams and has achieved Diamond status by donating in excess of $1K.  The Relay is conducted through the night to recognize that cancer is a 24 hour per day challenge and that many who battle the disease are afflicted with side effects while the rest of us sleep.

Of the $17M raised in Ohio in 2005 through Relay events, mostly all of it was returned to Ohio for grant programs for education, local patient navigators who advocate for and connect patients to services as needed, the Look Good-Feel Good program to help patients cope with the side effects of cancer treatment, support groups and lodging assistance to name a few.

The mission of Relay is to raise funds for cancer research, advocacy and education.  However, she shared that 'Fundraising isn't all we do......but all we do depends on fundraising'.

Hosting Rotarian: Jeff Piper