Walk was a success

To the editor:
How can we begin to say thanks to each of you who volunteered, donated, attended and encouraged every cancer survivor at the Walk Against Cancer held on Saturday, June 23 at Jay County High School?
Thanks for the hard work of the Walk committee, all of the volunteers who helped that day, and especially each of you who generously donated to the Jay County Cancer Society. More than $30,000 was raised again this year, which will financially help any Jay County cancer patient with uninsured cancer-related expenses.
The evening started with the Celebration of Life dinner, in which 200 dinners were served to cancer survivors, their guests and sponsors of the walk. Thank you to Tyson Mexican Original and Coca-Cola for providing meat and drinks, and to the Knights of Columbus for preparing the dinner and the Boy Scouts for serving. 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 1,000 candles lit around the JCHS track honoring cancer survivors and remembering those lost to the disease.
We also greatly appreciate sponsors who donate money year after year so that we can hold the walk. One hundred percent of the money raised at the walk is given to Jay County cancer patients. Thanks year our Platinum sponsors were: Dr. Charles Miller Dental Office; Delta Theta Tau Sorority-XI Chapter; and Hartzell Fan. Gold Sponsors were Stoneridge Electronics; Fellowship Baptist Church; Jay County Hospital medical practices; Knights of Columbus; Family Worship Center; MainSource Bank; Remember When/The VanSkyock family; Altar Rosary Society; Mayor Geesaman’s Charity Golf Outing; Inman U-Loc; Dr. David Fullenkamp; Veralia; Schmit Chiropractic; SDP Manufacturing; New Beginnings Church; Williams Auto Parts; Arch Bridge Kroozers; Pak-A-Sak; and Blacksmiths Local 1620. Silver sponsors were Moser Engineering; Coca-Cola; Fullenkamp Machine; Alpha Gamma Nu, Portland; Kiwanis; Old National Bank; Tyson Mexican Original and First Merchants Bank.
Jay County is a generous community — not only with its money, but its time as well. The Walk had nearly 150 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 22. Mark that date on your calendar and plan to bring your church, business, family and friends to the walk.
There are so 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, P.O. Box 614, Portland, IN, 47371, or at The Portland Foundation in the Jay County Cancer Society’s endowment fund.
That fund ensures 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 questions, contact the society at (260) 726-8110 or Rogers Durham, president of the Jay County Cancer Society board, at (260) 726-6416. Thanks again for a fantastic year.
Bev Inman and Linda Leonhard, co-chairs, 2012 Walk Against Cancer[[In-content Ad]]