The American Cancer Society Relay for Life, the world’s largest fundraising event to end cancer, is hosting its Carter County Kickoff with a purple pancake breakfast.
Relay participants, cancer survivors, caregivers, and community members are all invited to this free event to kick off this year’s Relay. A full breakfast with purple pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, coffee and orange juice will be provided for a $5 donation.
It will begin at 7:30 a.m. on February 6 at Fatz Cafe at 980 Overmountain Road. Tickets are available at the door or from Carter County Relay teams.
Last year, 32 teams participated in the event by registering, fundraising, spreading awareness, and of course enjoying the all-night relay race event on June 24.
The race features entertainment, camping, food and activities for all, and is a prime opportunity for churches, schools, organizations and friends to band together for the cause of saving lives.
Team may be comprised of any number of people with an interest in fighting cancer through the American Cancer Society’s various programs. Requirements for teams include hosting a fundraiser and setting up a booth at the event.
“Just having a bake sale could bring in $200 than we wouldn’t have had,” said Community Manager Amy Hopson. “Everybody can do something they like to do to help.”
T-shirts and discount cards, among other items, are available for teams to sell to help raise money for the organization. Hopson said the goal for this year is to raise $120,000.
Services provided to cancer patients, survivors and caretakers range greatly and make an impact both locally and nationally.
“Currently we have patients staying at Hope Lodge in Nashville when they travel from Elizabethton to Vanderbilt for treatment, survivors who have benefitted from breakthroughs in our research program, and caregivers who call our 800 number for information and assistance, just to name a few,” said Hopson.
Donations have a measurable impact in the lives impacted by cancer. A $500 donation can cover lodging for a patient and his or her caregiver for five nights at the Hope Lodge. A $150 donation connects a patient with a cancer navigator to help understand diagnosis and get necessary help. $100 can provide one-on-one peer support from a trained cancer survivor. $50 can provide five free rides to and from cancer treatment. $35 can cover three years of follow-up for one patient enrolled in the ACS Cancer Prevention Study-3.
In Tennessee in 2014, ACS provided 7,576 rides to and from cancer treatment, lodging to 1,118 patients and caregivers, provided information via cancer.org to over 61 million people, responded to over 800,000 requests for information and helped over 500 women with cancer to manage the appearance-related side effects of treatment.
Overall, the organization has invested more than $4.3 billion in research since 1946, $6.6 million of which is currently invested in research grants in Tennessee. These efforts reach people in any stage of cancer from education and prevention, to detection, transportation and forming a treatment strategies, to identifying financial assistance avenues, service providers and recovery plans. Survivors that have benefitted from ACS assistance have returned to serve through support programs and awareness initiatives.
For more information or to register a team, visit relayforlife.org/carterTN.
The Elizabethton Star will have discount cards for sale in its lobby for $10 which offer community members a way to save money and support a good cause. The card offers discounts at various local restaurants and markets and is available for $10.
Let the STAR know about your team’s fundraiser!