The Carmi Kiwanis Club held its regularly scheduled noon meeting on May 31, 2018 at the White County Farm Bureau Building. Club President Holly Healy opened the meeting with the Kiwanis Creed, Song, Pledge and Prayer. The 50/50 drawing was won by Scott Johnson. Club guests were Mike Pfister and Brett Vaughn. Good News from the club members; Amy McCarty provided lettuce and radishes from the 4-H Gift Garden; Dave Johnson – White County retired teachers fund raiser for grants for classroom work; Barry Cleveland – reported on the annual Crossville Highschool reunion and his 50-year class reunion; Katelyne Wolff – after 12 weeks of maternity leave back to work and back to Kiwanis.
Holly Healy introduced Patty Hodgson, Co-Chair White County Relay for Life and Stephanie Smith, Community Development Manager with the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. Unable to attend was Co-Chair Angie Lueke. The White County Relay for Life will be Friday June 15th from 6 PM to 12 AM at the Carmi-White County High School. They have planned special activities for the cancer survivors with entertainment, food booths and more. They are inviting the public to come to the event and ENJOY THE EVENING AT RELAY!! The theme for 2018 is White County – Strike Out Cancer. The fund-raising goal for 2018 is $42,500. Patty Hodgson said they are half way to their goal. So, it is important that teams, groups, churches, and organizations join in the effort to meet this goal and more. Patty also said the White County Relay for Life has raised $300,000 over the past several years. She expressed thanks to the Carmi White County Highschool for the use of the facilities and the City of Carmi for providing electricity for the evening event which allows the food booths to sell and serve refreshments.
Another important event prior to the Relay for Life event is the Survivor Dinner that is hosted by Emanuel Methodist Church. This dinner is provided to the cancer survivors and caregivers with donations from the Crossroads Church of Norris City and the Carmi Elks Lodge. This dinner will be June 9th. In 2017 approximately 150 attended this program to honor the survivors and their caregivers.
Leading up to the event these past months are many fundraisers to help achieve the goal of $42,500. These events have been raffles, road blocks, and most recently a dodgeball tournament. Another fund raiser that the St. Louis Cardinals team up with the American Cancer Society is the allocation of 6,500 tickets to the Cardinal game on August 19th with the Milwaukee Brewers. For each ticket sold the Cardinals donate $10 to Relay for Life. Also, with the purchase of a ticket each fan will receive a free hotdog and drink. You can contact Patty Hodgson at 618-383-1137 to purchase a game day ticket. Patty and her husband, Junior, have sold over 700 tickets. The high-ticket seller for the game will throw out the first pitch. It is an exciting day and the Cardinals provide a host of activities for the day.
Stephanie Smith spoke on behalf of the American Cancer Society on the funds that are used for research and how these funds are invested into the researcher’s projects. The American Cancer
Society is one of the largest non-governmental research programs with over $4.6 billion invested into research. Currently they have 755 grants for $400 million. The research is a testament by the decline in cancer patient deaths but still in 2018 1.7 million have been diagnosed with cancer.
Stephanie touched on other programs that is through the American Cancer Society. One is the Hope Lodge program which provides unlimited free night lodging. The nearest for this area is St. Louis, Missouri. There are 30 other locations of Hope Lodge in the United States. Another program is the free rides program provided by volunteers or public transportation to treatment centers. Look Good Feel Better is a program that teaches women to cope with appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment which includes the free wig program. Stephanie pointed out that there are personal health managers for the cancer patients to help the cancer patient with doctor’s appointments and treatment plans.
Stephanie said that help for patients, survivors, and caregivers through the American Cancer Society can also be obtained through the website at cancer. org or call 1-800-227-2345 for more information 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They offer clinical trials matching services, health insurance assistance and referrals to other services.
In club business, President Healy read a thank you note from the CWCHS After Prom Party for the Kiwanis donation.
