Organizers of event say thank yous

To the editor:

How can we begin to say thanks to each of you who volunteered, donated, attended, participated and encouraged every cancer survivor at the WALK Against Cancer which was held on Saturday June 26 at Jay County High School?

Thanks for the hard work of the WALK committee, all of the volunteers who helped on the day of the WALK, and especially each of you who generously donated to the Jay County Cancer Society. This was our best fundraising year ever as we raised more than $25,000, which will financially assist Jay County cancer patients.

The evening started with the Survivor's Dinner, in which 180 dinners were served to cancer survivors and their guests. Thank you to Tyson Mexican Original and Coca Cola Bottling for providing the meat and drinks, and to the Knights of Columbus and their ladies for preparing and serving the dinner - you are appreciated! The opening ceremonies highlighted the evening with a balloon launch and a moment of reflection about hope - hope for healing, hope for comfort and hope for a cure. The luminary ceremony was equally reflective with more than 1000 candles lit around the JCHS track both honoring cancer survivors and remembering those lost to the disease.

We also greatly appreciate our sponsors who year after year donate money so that we can hold the WALK. One hundred percent of the money raised at the WALK is given to the Jay County's cancer patients.

This year our Gold sponsors were Stoneridge Electronics, Fellowship Baptist Church, Hartzell Fan, Delta Theta Tau Sorority- XI Chapter, Portland, Jay County Hospital, Knights of Columbus, Family Worship Center, MainSource Bank, Remember When - The VanSkyock Family, Altar Rosary Society and Mayor Hosier's Charity Golf Outing. Silver Sponsors were Moser Engineering, Coca Cola Bottling Company, FCC Indiana, Fullenkamp Machine, Williams Auto Parts, Dr. David Fullenkamp, St. Gobain Containers, Starr Real Estate LLC, Fastenal and Tyson Mexican Original.

Jay County is certainly a generous community, not only with its money, but its time as well. When completed, the WALK had more than 100 volunteers who put in more than 1,000 hours to make this event so successful.

This is a tremendous effort on behalf of the cancer patients and their families in Jay County.

Next year, the WALK Against Cancer will be Saturday, June 25, 2011. Mark that date on your calendar and plan to bring your church, your business, your family and your friends to the WALK.

There are many ways to be involved, including collecting pledges, being a sponsor, or volunteering just a few hours.

Donations are always welcome at: WALK Against Cancer, PO Box 614, Portland, IN, 47371 or at The Portland Foundation in the Jay County Cancer Society endowment fund.

The endowment fund will ensure that the cancer society can continue to provide financial assistance to cancer patients in Jay County long into the future. Please remember the Jay County Cancer Society in your estate planning.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the cancer society on its message line at 260-726-8110 or contact Jay County Cancer Society board President Rogers Durham at 260-726-6416. Thanks again for a fantastic year!

Bev Inman & Linda Leonhard, co-chairs, 2010 Walk Against Cancer[[In-content Ad]]