We can tell spring is just around the corner when we hear the announcement that the Carroll County American Cancer Society (ACS) Relay for Life kickoff is scheduled to take place. Co-chairs, Teresa and Brandon Vonnahme and Erin and Kevin Milligan, along with ACS Relay specialist, Kim Durst, are excited to bring the entire Carroll area together to prepare for this year’s Relay. Brandon Vonnahme says it really does seem like the 2016 Relay was just wrapped up.
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The Wednesday night program features music by All Strings Attached and attendees will then learn more about the Relay itself and the teams, survivors will be recognized, awards will be presented and Durst will talk about what the American Cancer Society does. Keynote speaker is Michael DeSanti, who has seen personally how diet and lifestyle changes impact cancer.
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Vonnahme said the main source of funds raised from the Relay comes from the teams and the most important thing to support their efforts is to share the information about what they are doing and drive attendance at their fundraisers. This year, the event co-chairs are changing the theme from the national one of “Paint the World Purple”. They said they wanted to take a more serious tone with “Carry the Fire.”
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Durst said she just can’t thank these committees enough for all of their hard work, and she announced the American Cancer Society has a new hotel partnership with the Carrollton Inn in Carroll. For those who need to travel for chemo, radiation or treatments and need a place to stay, the Carrollton Inn is supporting that. Durst said this is just one of many services the American Cancer Society shares and it is because of everyone who gives.
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Vonnahme added that even though the chairs describe the event as a well-oiled machine, they believe that people sometimes think it just takes care of itself. The truth is, to make strides, more people need to become involved, to show up at these events and if nothing else, to give their time to a cause that impacts all of us in one way or another. Again, the social hour begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22 at the Carrollton Inn ballroom with the rally program getting underway at 6:30.