Kickoff Relay for Life meeting scheduled  Monday, June 9th
By Kathy Magoto

The Darke County Relay for Life (American Cancer Society) Committee is gearing up for their June meeting by challenging all teams to bring in the most luminaries.

Their meeting will be held Monday, June 9th at the Shawnee Prairie Preserve (4267 State Route 502, Greenville) from 6:30 - 7:30 pm. They would like the public to know that there is always room for volunteers on each team and committee. If you are interested you only need to attend this meeting or contact Rose Schlater at (937) 526-5151 or schlater48@embarqmail.com.

The meeting will focus on the upcoming Relay for Life event to be held at Heritage Park in Versailles on July 18th and 19th. With more than 20 teams each team will report on their fundraising events, as well as their vision for the Relay event.

These team members are our neighbors, friends, and relatives who desire to work together to raise awareness, network with cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, family and friends and help in the fight against cancer. The funds raised through their efforts go to the American Cancer Society to fight against all types of cancer, as well as, provide support programs.

One such support program is the ACS Man To Man program, which helps men cope with prostate cancer by offering community-based education and support for patients and their family members.

A core component of the program is the self-help and/or group support. Volunteers organize these monthly meetings where speakers and participants learn and share information about prostate cancer, treatment, side effects, and how to cope with prostate cancer and its treatment. The locations serving our area are Wright Patterson Air Force Base Medical Center, 4881 Sugar Maple Dr., Dayton (meeting held the first Tuesday of every month at 6:00 pm) and Samaritan North Health Center, Educational Center, 9000 N Main St., Dayton (meeting held the second Monday of every month at 6:30 pm). These are free programs for prostate cancer patients and their families. A one on one conversation is also available with facilitator, William Gaillard, to make such arrangements call 1-800-237-2345.

In addition, the American Cancer Society publishes Man to Man News for men with prostate cancer who are newly diagnosed, currently in treatment, or in recovery. This six-page newsletter is offered three times a year, free of charge by going online to www.cancer.org. Past issues are also available. Each edition of Man To Man News covers topics such as:

Prostate cancer treatment options

Healthy living after prostate cancer treatment

Survivor stories

Coping with side effects

Online resources

If you are interested in becoming a part of your community’s “2014 Relay For Life” you can learn more about it by attending the June 9th meeting.