Commissioners sign “Paint the County Purple” proclamation
By Bob Robinson 

GREENVILLE – On July 8 the Darke County Commissioners signed a proclamation July 14 through 20 as “Paint the County Purple” week for Darke County Relay for Life. 

In the proclamation, commissioners urged communities, citizens and businesses to join in the fight against cancer by decorating the towns, homes and businesses in purple ribbons and signs, and to participate in the Relay For Life of Darke County July 19 and 20 at Heritage Park in Versailles. 

According to the Proclamation, Darke County is expected to see 260 new cases of cancer in 2013, and approximately 122 deaths from cancer related illnesses. 

It also notes “one in three people will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime and more than two-thirds of all cancer deaths are preventable.” 

“It has to do with early screening, proper diet and exercise,” said Mark Kaufman of Sidney. He noted that part of the goal of the American Cancer Society is to educate doctors and patients on the value of early screening. 

“The early screening is the big thing,” he said. 

He noted the organization is developing a “slide wheel” (sort of like a slide rule) that can be adjusted for an individual’s age and lifestyle. The adjustment will indicate what tests should be conducted for what purposes. 

While Kaufman acknowledged that factors such as obesity, smoking and family history are important aspects of determining the likelihood of the onset of cancer, the American Cancer Society is currently starting a long range, 20 to 30 year Cancer Prevention Study. It will look at 300,000 people nationwide and focus on lifestyle and family history. 

The 2013 Relay for Life will be the ninth in Darke County, with more than $520,000 raised by county individuals, businesses and organizations. 

Published courtesy of The Early Bird