Jeff Hajny

    Cancer has become one of the major causes of death in the United States and the world.
     Nearly everyone in the planet knows someone who has been affected with some type of cancer in their lifetime.
     For a long time, groups have been working to raise awareness and find ways to cure types of cancer.
     On June 14, the ACS Relay for Life of Seward County sponsored the Cancer Survivor Appreciation Dinner at the Utica Auditorium.
     The event featured a dinner and raffle. All were invited to attend, with a focus on those who were cancer survivors.
     The dinner also attempted to get the word out on advocacy.
     "Part of advocacy is trying to get the community involved. We really try to get out and interact with the community and try to get them to participate," Alison Otte, the ACS-Lincoln Advocacy Chair, said, "With advocacy, we encourage citizens to communicate with their local and state representatives regarding cancer funding and research."
     The ACS Advocacy recently helped to pass a bill with the Nebraska Legislature regarding colon cancer screening coverage for adults ages 50 and over.
     Marge Rhodes, the organizer of the event, was very enthusiastic about this year's turnout.
     "This year has been great. Other years, we did the dinner on Sunday, which made it hard since on Sundays people are attending church at different times," Rhodes said, "Since we've been doing this dinner a lot more people have been coming in every year. We have people coming in from everywhere, including Staplehurst, York, and Seward."
     Rhodes also believed that this event helped the community as a whole.
     "This means a lot to the community becuase it makes the whole area aware of the work the Society does and how it brings more to the group as a whole," Rhodes said, "Something like this also helps the community learn about the services done by the American Cancer Society. I think most of all, this helps with the fellowship of the area. It gives them a place to get together and enjoy each other's company."