Walkers planning to take part in the pre-walk activities at the eighth annual Sarah Jarboe White United Cancer Assistance Network Walk will want to arrive at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Danny Bell Cancer Center on North Westwood Boulevard.
UCAN Executive Director Melody Chailland explained, while the walk starts at 10 a.m. anyone wanting to join in the balloon release, listen to the speaker and prayer or get a good parking spot should arrive early.
Last year, anyone arriving closer to 10 a.m. was unable to participate in the balloon release, Chailland said. Putting helium in the balloons takes time.
More than 1,000 individuals are registered to “Walk in Love” this year, but there is always room for one more team or individual “to make a difference in the lives of local cancer patients while they are in the fight of their life,” Chailland said. “Let’s make an impact and show the cancer patients in Butler, Stoddard, Wayne and Ripley counties no one fights alone.”
The 5K will begin and end at the cancer treatment center with walkers traveling along the streets marked off for the event. Local businesses are sponsoring hydration stations which provides waters, juice, fruit, freezer pops or snacks.
In the 21 years UCAN has been in existence, the program has made a difference in around 4,000 people’s lives, or between 175-180 people each year.
UCAN annually provides $100,000 in direct services to cancer patients filling an important gap left open by other groups. More than $250,000 has been raised from this event to help cancer patients with fuel cards, transportation, utilities, groceries, medical expenses, housing, nutritional supplements and many other necessities while they are going through chemotherapy and radiation and unable to work.
Since it is a non-profit charitable organization funded by local citizens, UCAN provides direct assistance to individuals to help pay rent and utilities, buying materials to build wheelchair ramps and provide transportation to treatment or gas cards so patients may travel for treatments.
While UCAN fills a financial gap, the program is designed to provide individualized support for patients. When patients come into the UCAN office, they are greeted by volunteers whose lives have been touched by cancer. Often developing personal relationships, volunteers and patients uplift each other during visits.
Since UCAN is a 501(c)3 organization, donations are tax deductible. Anyone wanting to make donations or memorials may mail or drop them by the office at 2620 N Westwood Blvd. in Poplar Bluff, visit the website at www.ucanpb.org or mail to 1899 N. Westwood Blvd., Suite C, PMB 172, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901-3396.