The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by David Grimes for The Quill
If you throw a party for the right cause, everybody wants to be there.
That's why Henderson County's Relay for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society was such a huge success last weekend.
In its ninth year, the county event drew 21 teams of walkers, comprised of ten to 15 members each.
"We held a combined event with Warren County for five of those years," said Charlotte Shafer, Biggsville, who is now in her second year as chairman for the Henderson County fundraiser. "We exceeded our goals this year in teams participating, number of luminaries, sponsorships...in everything."
Team walkers logged laps at the West Central High School track from 7 p.m. July 22 through 8 a.m. July 23, despite some of the most grueling heat so far this summer.
Funds raised through the Relay for Life program go toward defraying costs such as transportation, patient services, cancer screenings, advocacy, education about cancer and research.
Informing the public about all the American Cancer Society is involved with helps boost attendance numbers at events like Relay for Life.
"Every year more of the word is getting out, as far as what Relay is about and as more word gets out, understanding of what the program is about increases, too," said Stacey Dutton, Kirkwood, income development representative for Illinois' Northwest Regional Office at Rock Island.
Raising public awareness of the various forms of cancer is important as well as what forms are predominant in specific parts of the state.
"Warren, Henderson, Rock Island and Knox counties have some of the highest number of reported cases of lung cancer and skin cancer," said Sarah Betsworth, manager of the ACS office at Rock Island.
Those two cancers are predominant, Betsworth said, due to the region's predominantly agricultural economy.
Although all pledges have not yet been collected, projected dollar amounts raised through last Friday and Saturday Relay for Life event include $768.57 from the first Miss Relay contest, $3,904 from luminaries and a total amount of $28, 848.07 raised (projected goal was $24, 624.65).