What follows Relay For Life?

  • [photo by Mel Weinstein]

    [photo by Mel Weinstein]

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

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

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