Events and Activities : Benton County Relay for Life set for June 7

Benton County residents have the opportunity to help the American Cancer Society continue its 100-year fight against cancer by
getting involved with the Relay For Life at the Vinton-Shellsburg High
School Track, Vinton, on Friday, June 7, beginning at 6 p.m.
If you are a survivor, come and join fellow survivors in the celebration lap at 7 p.m. For more information contact Frieda Davis (472-5348).
If you have a loved one who is fighting cancer or one who has lost their fight, honor them with a luminaria. This ceremony will be at dusk when each bag circling the track and bearing the name of your loved one, will be lit and each name will be read. For more information contact the ACS volunteer in your area or Sally Donald (228-8148).
Or be a spectator and come to spend an evening at the track. Bring your
lawn chairs and a can of food (approx. 14 ounces). These cans will hold the candle in the luminaria bag and then will be donated to the food banks in Benton County.
Sponsors for the relay to date are:
Hope ($600+): The Watkins Savings Bank, The Star Press Union and Belle Plaine Rotary Club;
Faith ($400 - $599): Atkins Lumber Co. and Cedar Valley Farms;
Courage ($200 - $399): Atkins Savings Bank & Trust; Rabe Hardware, Van Horne; Cooperative Telephone Co.; Clingman Pharmacy; Eden Mutual Insurance; LaGrange Pharmacy; Coon Creek Telephone Co.; Vinton Noon Kiwanis; Benton County Chapter of Thrivent 31120; Wilson/Hite Insurance; Belle Plaine Subway; Iowa Mold & Engineering, Inc.; Titan Machinery and P & K Midwest.

ACS marks 100 years - finishing the fight
The American Cancer Society was founded in 1913 and has played a role in nearly every cancer research breakthrough in recent history contributing to a 20 percent decline in cancer death rates in the United States since the early 1990s. This means 1.2 million lives have been saved during this time.
Last year the American Cancer Society assisted more than one million
people who called for help. That number is 1-800-227-2345 and is a 24/7 contact for anyone who may have questions about diagnosis, treatment, etc.
Karen Humphrey, chair of the American Cancer Society Midwest Division
Board of Directors states, "It's amazing to think how far we've come in 100 years. All that time we've been leading the way in helping transform cancer from deadly to treatable and from treatable to preventable. Today, when people are diagnosed with cancer, two out of three will live at least five years. We have an opportunity to make that three out of three. It's been a source of pride that all four states in the Midwest Division are smoke-free. And going forward, we'll turn it up. We'll keep fighting for everyone to have access to quality health care and cancer screenings and clean air. Now is the time for us to boldly join together and finish the fight!"