By Patric Hedlund, TME

For five years Relay For Life of the Mountain Communities was a beacon of hope, friendship and encouragement to those battling cancer. The desire to be helpful to our neighbors engaged in this most personal life-and-death struggle summoned heroic efforts by this community.

Families, friends and loved ones rallied each year to disprove the proverb that you cannot squeeze blood from a stone. From 2013 through 2017, families with modest incomes raised over $172,750 from these Mountain Communities to give to the American Cancer Society (ACS). [See note on page 4]

Now the American Cancer Society’s organizational commitment to local fundraising efforts has come to a halt.

An American Cancer Society (ACS) representative said the once-popular 24-hour Relay for Life “has been in decline, and the ACS itself is…(please see below to view full stories and photographs)

Photo captions:

Anna Hart hugs her high school buddy, Sarah Ryan, at the June 25, 2016 Relay For Life of the Mountain Communities. She and Ray Scott both told inspiring stories of their fights for recovery, and told how much family and friends contributed to surviving their battles.

The 24-hour Relay For Life was a unifying event held at Frazier Mountain High School. Right: Sierra Hofman, Hanna Bauer and Kiera Quinto helped raise funds to fight cancer.

Learn about the Kern County Cancer Fund Monday, March 5 at 6 p.m. at the VFW Hall(612 Canada Trail), Frazier Park

To see full stories with photos, please purchase a copy of the newspaper at many locations (click this link for a list) throughout the Mountain Communities.

Or, have your newspaper delivered via mail and include internet access. Just call 661-245-3794. Classified ads are FREE to paid subscribers! See front page at www.mountainenterprise.com for details.

The e-Edition is available now with full photos and stories at The Mountain Enterprise e-Edition. Select the 2018-0302 edition.

(subscriber login required)

This is part of the March 2, 2018 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

Have an opinion on this matter? We'd like to hear from you.