Charmettes donate funds, wigs for cancer patients during Relay for Life
Special to the Outlook
The Leon County Chapter of Charmettes Inc. supported the 33rd Annual Relay for Life Leon-Havana with a $1,000 donation and wigs for cancer patients.
Held on April 28, Relay for Life is the signature event of the American Cancer Society. It’s designed to make strides in achieving a world free of cancer and support for those affected by the disease.
From start to finish, attendees clung to a sense of hope and determination. Survivors dressed in purple shirts and mixed in with more than 1,200 participants representing 65 registered teams at Leon High School. Attendees, including Charmette members, trekked the grounds and displayed unwavering support.
“This is just a small token of our appreciation and gratitude for what you do in the community, and we pledge to continue to support you,” said Beverly Williams, who chairs the chapter’s cancer support efforts.
Donations such as these are needed to push forward potentially life-saving research.
In 2018, the American Cancer Society estimated more than 1.7 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed in the United States, along with about 609,000 cancer deaths.
Williams enlightened a captive audience with the organization’s mission toward improving healthcare in our communities. The organization is a sisterhood of dedicated women committed to improving the quality of life in our communities through advocacy, education, service and support for cancer research.
“It is so befitting for us to be here and express our gratitude to the American Cancer Society for what they have done, for what they are doing and what they will continue to do with our help to eradicate this dreaded disease,” Williams said.
During the check presentation, Miss Debutante 2018 Carina Richardson offered remarks on the importance of raising funds and awareness.
“I really wanted to be a debutante this year because I knew we were raising money for cancer research,” Richardson said. “It’s something that’s touched my family personally.”
Danielle Sowell, community manager for ACS, said the organization’s local chapter operates a resource room where cancer patients can take home a wig for free. She praised the Charmettes for the group’s display of empathy and care for cancer patients.
“The wigs you all provided will be added to that,” Sowell said.
She went on to say the organization will invest significant funds per year toward research, which helps patient programs.
“We are trying to help people currently going through cancer and prevent people from getting it in the future,” Sowell said. “Working with organizations like yours is a huge morale boost for our volunteers to see a new partnership with another organization coming on and be able to build upon that each year. That’s really encouraging.”
For more information on the Leon County Chapter of The Charmettes, Incorporated, visit www.leoncountycharmettes.org.
