Annual Volunteer Recognition Banquet honors many members of Fayette Unit
Saving lives is a tough job and one that the many volunteers of the American Cancer Society (ACS) work hard to accomplish.
For their efforts, more than 50 volunteers and officials from the ACS’ Fayette Unit were honored Thursday night at the group’s Annual Volunteer Recognition Banquet. Nancy Tilley, community volunteer involvement specialist, noted that thanks to the work of the volunteers and others, Fayette County raised $235,000 last year to help in the fight against cancer.
The funds were raised from Daffodil Days, an annual golf tournament and two Relay for Life events.
Tilley said the money generated funds the ACS’ various programs of prevention and early detection of cancer, patient services, advocacy and research.
She added that 174 ACS program services have been provided to cancer patients in Fayette County to date this year. She attributes the success of the programs to the hard work and dedication of the volunteers who diligently dedicate their time to the worthy cause.
Volunteers who were awarded at the banquet work with ACS programs such as “Reach to Recovery,” a program that allows trained volunteer cancer survivors to offer practical self-care tips during and after their treatment and the “Look Good Feel Better” program, where trained beauty professionals teach women how to care and understand for the changes that cancer causes for their skin and hair.
“They are an amazingly dedicated large group of individuals and the time they give to those with cancer is truly inspiring,” Tilley noted.
Tilley explained that the ACS has many programs that the public is not aware of and says she hopes to get the word out to the public.
“We have great programs available and they can be utilized much more than they are. We want the public to know what we have to offer, especially the financial assistance programs that we have.”
Financial help is available for transportation, prescription drugs, medical treatment and equipment, wigs and turbans according to Tilley.
“There’s so much we have to offer, and that’s what we want to do,” Tilley added.
Mary Ann Ealy, cancer control specialist of prevention and detection for ACS units in both Fayette and Greene counties, works hard to do just that. She explained that she recruits coordinators who in turn recruit volunteers.
“They are responsible for spreading the word about cancer and early detection,” Ealy said. She works with the “Tell A Friend” program.
“The program allows the coordinators to recruit the volunteer callers who basically call five female friends over the age of 40 and encourage them to get a mammogram,” Ealy explained. And, according to Ealy, awareness is key.
But those awarded at the banquet weren’t concerned with awareness for the hard work they do, only for the success of those that they’ve helped.
“We’re a part of a fight. It’s something much bigger than volunteering time, and it’s worth while because so many people are touched in one way or another by cancer, ‘ said Barbara Yalich, chairman of the popular Relay for Life event. For her work, Yalich received the Spirit Award.
Others honored included Virginia Parnell of McClellentown, Care Giver Award; John McDermott, Golden Sword Award for 10 years of service; John Sokol and Don Vogelsang, all of Uniontown, Volunteer of the Year Award.
Anyone interested in ACS services or volunteering time to the ACS should contact the Southwest Region Office as 1-888-ACS-5445.