Locals help battle Cancer in their own way

Many locals help battle Cancer in their own way.  Many in the area create teams and work toward a common goal that ends at the Relay for Life Rally held at Merle V. North Stadium on April 20, 2011.  Others, donate hair for wigs to help those suffering from the side effects of Chemotherapy.  Here are some from the United Methodist Church at Jay that are involved in fighting Cancer.

Rush Hendricks has chosen to donate his hair to The Beautiful Lengths program which provides wigs at no cost to cancer patients.  This  was very important to Rush. It also only requires an 8” minimum length, which is nice for male donors. Rush began growing his hair out originally  for his senior year Baseball Final Four quest. Later, as others commented about how thick and beautiful his curls were, and he became more aware of people he knew who were battling cancer, he was sensitive to their needs and wanted to donate.

His grandfather, BD Hendricks lost a good bit of his hair with his chemo, and a family friend, Linda Ryan is fighting her third battle with cancer. Although Linda is not losing her hair with her treatments, if could have been the case. It meant a lot to him to be able to give the hair it was so easy for him to grow to those who can’t grow their own hair. Such a seemingly simple thing really means so much to those in need.

Father, Ricky, resigned himself to the fact that Rush was going to let it grow, and maintained that if he continued to make the grades he made, and remembered who he represented, he could grow his hair as long as he wanted. However, he is glad to see Rush clean cut again.  Mom, Nina, “I think he had a gorgeous head of hair, and it reminded me of Ricky’s mom’s hair (Virginia). I was pleased that he wanted to turn his efforts into something more meaningful than a high school or college challenge, and was very proud he chose to help someone else with a donation. I will keep my before picture nearby though.”

Rush was able to donate 7 ponytails.  The longest ponytail was 14” when straightened, and each were about an inch in diameter.

Audrey Carnley a member of the United Methodist Relay for Life team has set up her own page with her reasons for helping. Audrey also helps with the Annual Hope Walk held in October of each year.

Audrey Carnley My Reason to Relay

I am participating in the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life because I want to make a meaningful difference in the fight against cancer.  Almost everyone has been touched by cancer, either through their own personal battle or through someone they love. Every day, the American Cancer Society is helping us stay well by preventing cancer or finding it at its earliest, most treatable stages. They assist families in finding the best resources to help their friend or loved one deal with a diagnosis and their journey to get well. The American Cancer Society is also rallying communities (like ours!) through events like Relay For Life, to fight back and find cures for this disease.

Please join my team or make a donation to help the American Cancer Society create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. Together, we can help make sure that cancer never steals another year of anyone’s life!

The Jay United Methodist Church has had a Relay team for many years and is proud to support the American Cancer Society.

Jay United Methodist Why We Relay

We are making a difference by teaming up to participate in the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life.  At the event, our team will camp out overnight and take turns walking around the track to raise money and awareness to help the American Cancer Society create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. Saving lives from cancer starts one team, one participant, and one dollar at a time. Our team is doing our part to make sure that cancer never steals another year of anyone’s life.

Please join our team or make a donation. The impact we can make together is much greater than what any of us could do alone!

Supporters for the Fight against Cancer