For the second year in a row, the Greene County Medical Center has chosen to sponsor a reception honoring cancer survivors at the county’s Relay for Life event on Saturday, April 26. All survivors at the reception will be entered into a drawing for a unique quilt made of previous years’ Relay T-shirts (pictured) and made by Anne Butler and Karla Janning. Also, for the first time, participating survivors will be given their own distinct T-shirt, specially designed by Jen Badger of Shine On Design of rural Jefferson, and courtesy of the medical center.
Carla Offenburger, GCMC community relations director, said the medical center sponsors the survivor reception because “we play a role in the initial diagnosis of cancer through mammograms and other testing done here. We care about the patient outcomes and work with other cancer treatment facilities to assure great patient care along the journey. It seemed a logical role for us at Relay for Life.”
The reception honoring cancer survivors has long been an integral part of the local Relay for Life event. This year it will begin with registration of survivors and caregivers at 9:30 am, followed by the reception in the room right off the Community Center entrance to the east (the former preschool room). The traditional group photo will be taken at 10, followed by the Survivor and Caregiver Walk.
A new twist this year is for the Walk to exit the building along the outdoor sidewalk on the East side of the Community Center and proceed to the start of the 5K Color Out Cancer run/walk on Lincoln Way. (Although near perfect temperatures are being forecast for the day, given recent weather patterns, a Plan B is wisely in place for the Walk to occur on the interior track if necessary.)
Each participating survivor will receive a complimentary ticket to the beef and pork barbecue that will begin at 11:30. Locally made hats for cancer patients will be available free of charge.
Survivors committee chair Ann Frederick says that there is still time for any survivor to notify the committee of his or her plans to attend. In addition to Frederick, other committee members are Rosalee Severson, Darla Johnson, and Carla Offenburger.
