Eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing it, saving lives and diminishing suffering from the disease is the mission of the American Cancer Society.
So said Buddy Graves at the Feb. 17 meeting of the Eupora Rotary Club. Graves, of Jackson, is director of estate and asset services for the Mid-South Division of the ACS.
His talk was among activities leading up to Webster County's first Relay for Life. The ACS fundraiser will be the night of May 29 at North Mississippi Medical Center-Eupora's walking track. The theme is "Kickin' Out Cancer."
Graves provided this additional information to Rotarians about the American Cancer Society:
Founded in 1913, the ACS is the largest voluntary health organization in the world. More than 2 million volunteers across the nation are involved in waging the battle against cancer on every front: research, education, prevention, detection and treatment, service and advocacy.
The ACS is the only non-profit operating on a community, statewide and national level; ranked in the Top 10 Best Managed Non-profits (U.S. News & World Report); and the No. 1-ranked health organization (Chronicle of Philanthropy). Its administrative costs are only 7 percent of it budget.
Graves said the charity is proactive, noting that it actively seeks cures and has funded 40 Nobel Prize winners.
Since 1946, the ACS has devoted more than $3.1 billion to cancer research. It funds more than $130 million in research each year, including more than $1 million to the University of Mississippi Medical Center since 2000. Currently, it awards more than $1.7 million to St. Jude Children's Research Center.
Graves stressed that all of the organization's services are free. It funds transportation grants throughout the state, and the Mid-South Division's financial assistance program is provided as a one-time or short-term benefit to cancer patients in need after all other resources have been exhausted. It also sponsors Camp Rainbow every summer for children who have or who have had cancer.
American Cancer Society specialists provide cancer information 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-ACS-2345 or on the Web at www.cancer.org.
Rotary Club guests included Bethany Cooper and Laura McKee, local Relay for Life co-chairs, and Amanda Patton, ACS area staff partner. Patton said many teams and corporate sponsors have already committed to participate in the local Relay, and Cooper said many fundraisers will be going on between now and the event.
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