Feb 8, 2011 By Herald Standard Staff 2 min read

Believer in the Steelers and an avid Hines Ward fan, George Anderson anxiously awaited Super Bowl Sunday. Steelers fans take great pride in their team, and Anderson is no exception.

Anderson has been living with Ed and Tina Pahula since 2001 through Laurel House Inc.’s Life Sharing Program.

This program offers individuals with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to live with a family of their choice and become involved in active day programming or community employment.

Always interested in helping others, Anderson recently combined his love for doing crafts and his Steeler pride to create a bracelet that is being sold to raise funds for Ray of Hope, a local American Cancer Society Relay for Life team.

Mostly comprised of family members, Ray of Hope formed in 2008 to honor Tina’s sister-in-law, Kathy Constable, who is a two-time cancer survivor.

Each year, Fayette County Behavioral Health Administration (FCBHA) employees choose organizations they would like to help support through voluntary dress down days. When Tina Pahula, a developmental program specialist for FCBHA, told her coworkers about Anderson’s creative fundraiser and his personal goal of becoming the top 2010-2011 individual fundraiser for his team, they immediately knew they wanted to support Anderson and his cause.

Each employee who made a donation toward his goal was given one of the Steeler bracelets.

The timing of this fundraiser was perfect timing with the Steelers playing in the Super Bowl in Dallas, and thanks to FCBHA and other local businesses, Anderson has raised over $750.

Over the past three years, the Fayette County’s Ray of Hope team has raised more than $60,000 for the American Cancer Society, but looks forward to the day they won’t have to relay because there will be a cure for cancer.