Volunteers make Cancer Walk a success

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 27th 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 have raised more than $15,000, which will financially help Jay County cancer patients.

The evening started with the Survivor’s Dinner, in which a wonderful meal was served to cancer survivors and their guests.  

Thank you to the Knights of Columbus 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 1,000 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 and donate all of the money raised to the Jay County Cancer Society.  This year our Platinum Sponsors were First Bank of Berne, Mayor Geesaman Golf Outing, Memorial of Dr. Charles Miller Jr., Schmit Chiropractic, Delta Zeta Tau, Church of the Brethren, IU Ball Memorial/Jay County Hospital, Fellowship Baptist Church, and Inman U Loc Storage.  Gold Sponsors were Alexander Financial Group of Raymond James, Cincinnatus League, Williamson Spencer Penrod Funeral Home, Ali & Doug Inman in Memory of Susie Inman, Knights of Columbus, Arch Bridge Kroozers, New Holiness Beginning Church, Blacksmiths Union Local 1620, Family Worship Center, Family of Joe Loucks, Wholesale Carpet Outlet, Coca-Cola, The Rosary Society, Masters Insurance, Belmont Graphics, First Merchants Bank, Jeff & Tammy Buhlman, SDP, and Kiwanis.  Silver Sponsors included Gamma Nu Sorority, Portland Eagles #928, MJS Mortuaries, Ford Power Services, and Alpha Delta Gamma Nu. 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, not to mention in the current state of our economy!

Next year, the Walk Against Cancer will be Saturday, June 23, 2018. Mark that date on your calendar now and plan on bringing 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 fund will ensure that the cancer society can continue to provide financial assistance to cancer patients in Jay County long into the future.  Remember the Jay County 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 Shirley Dollar at 765-768-6837.

See you next year!

Angela Twigg

Tisha Gierhart

Co-Chairs Jay County Walk Against Cancer