Have you been diagnosed with cancer or know anyone who has? Do you want to do something to help cancer patients? You can, by helping to fund the services the American Cancer Society has to offer, right here in Mariposa.

My mom was a 28-year breast cancer survivor and my step-dad suffered from melanoma. Mom’s oncologist was located in Fresno and his treatment was done at UC San Francisco. Both of them were able to receive help with the cost of travel through the Mileage Reimbursement program offered by the American Cancer Society, funded by the Relay For Life.

The Relay For Life is a 24-hour, overnight fund raising event. The Relay is made up of teams of families, friends, clubs, or businesses that raise money in the months leading up to the Relay. Then, on May 15, each team will have team members take turns walking around the track at the Mariposa Fairgrounds, all day and all night. Not everyone stays all night but those who do will never forget the experience.

I am looking forward to working with many of you in the next several months to put together this event that has raised over $80,000 annually for the past few years. All the funds raised go to the American Cancer Society and much of that stays in our local area helping cancer patients with programs such as Road to Recovery, Look Good Feel Good, Mileage Reimbursement, and many others.

Other cancer patients have benefited by using the Road To Recovery services in which volunteer drivers take patients to their appointments, and the Look Good Feel Good program that assists women with wigs and make-up while going through treatment.

These are just a few of the services offered by ACS, funded by the Relay For Life. Please call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 for information about these services and please contact me at (559) 760-3948 for information about the Relay For Life which will be held May 15-16 at the fairgrounds. We invite you to get a group of people together and join us.

“Until There’s a Cure.”
Ginny Carpenter
Mariposa Relay For Life
2010 Chairperson