by Melinda Huling
Staff Writer

Evans County has always been a big supporter of the American Cancer Society, raising huge amounts annually for that agency through Relay For Life events.

This year a planning committee is stepping out in a different direction with CARES, Inc. (Cancer Association Relief Effort and Support). Recently, the CARES group raised over $17,000 at their kick-off, which was a fun chili cook-off. The local CARES celebration will be held on April 20 at the Wildlife Club.

The all-volunteer membership organization is composed of an executive committee, officers and directors, team captains, team members, corporate sponsors and all those individuals dedicated to the mission of helping raise funds to provide local financial assistance to cancer victims and to help fund cancer research. There are no paid employees. Funds raised will be used to help those individuals diagnosed with cancer in Evans County and to a limited extent, the people of surrounding counties. The organization was incorporated through the Secretary of State’s office as nonprofit. There is an oversight committee made up of diverse members of the community.

“We are not in competition with Relay For Life. We just want to be able to help any of our local people who are fighting this dreaded disease,” said Adam Kennedy, chairman of the CARES Celebration and a member of the organization. “This is a local effort to help and support cancer victims as well as to support cancer research.”

If a person needs gas money to travel for treatment, CARES will be able to provide it. No funds raised from the Relay For Life events can be used locally in any community.

“We feel it is the best thing for our community,” said Tami Hall, a planning committee member. “In larger communities there are other resources that are available to help with needs such as transportation costs which are not available in a lot of smaller communities. We need to be able to help our neighbors. This will be a win/win situation. We will be able to help any of our neighbors who are cancer patients by buying a tank of gas or help with other needs as well as giving money to research. It is a big responsibility but we feel we are doing what is right for our community.”

Evans County, in the 13 years it has participated in Relay For Life for the American Cancer Society, has raised at least $l million.

According to Kay Nay, American Cancer Society, Inc, Community Manager for Evans, Bulloch, Montgomery and Wheeler counties, the Relay For Life kick-off is scheduled January 30 at the Veterans Center in Claxton. The Relay For Life in Evans County has been scheduled for June 1-2, 2007, but at this time a chairperson has not been named.

“There was in the past a one-time payment for transportation expenses for cancer patients in local communities. Now a cancer patient may apply, and based on economic eligibility, could use a gas card to help defray the cost,” said Nay.

She explained that some communities do have a volunteer program, Road to Recovery, where volunteers drive cancer patients for treatment. No gas money is provided.

“The focus of the American Cancer Society is to find a cure for cancer and it is a national program. The funds from Relay are used for education nationally, advocacy in getting bills passed that help cancer patients and research. A portion of the funding goes to patient services which funds various programs such as the Look Good Feel Better program,” explained Nay.

Perhaps it is not quite David taking on Goliath but similarities exist. The American Cancer Society could be considered Goliath and one of the smallest counties in the state, Evans County, in some respects is taking on the giant. The county is setting up its own relief agency to help local cancer patients through CARES (Cancer Association Relief Effort and Support) and will provide funding for cancer research.

For years, Evans County as well as many other counties, including Tattnall, has faithfully raised considerable amounts of money for cancer research through Relay for Life events. In the past 13 years of Relay for Life, Evans County has raised over an estimated million dollars.

This year, Evans County incorporated their own cancer relief organization to be able to help cancer patients in the local community. Citizens diagnosed with cancer will be able to get help with transportation costs and other types of help. CARES will have corporate sponsors, teams and team captains, but no paid employees and every member is a volunteer. If some of the team members happen to be from another county and cancer strikes that family, the team captain will be able to okay assistance for that family, even if the person resides in a surrounding county such as Tattnall.

There is no doubt that the American Cancer Society provides a tremendous amount of good for the overall nation and for those with cancer through its programs, website, and educational opportunities. However, it is difficult to watch that amount of money going out of a small community and not be able to provide direct assistance to a local cancer victim. The new CARES organization is in its infancy and as yet does not have all its guidelines in place but the fund raising has begun. Supporting cancer research is important but helping friends and neighbors who are fighting this dreaded disease is just as important and Tattnall County may want to explore the possibility of CARES for Tattnall County citizens.