Annual T-shirts ready for UCAN fundraiser walk

The T-shirts will be ready this week for the ninth annual Sarah Jarboe White UCAN Walk, which will be held Saturday, April 25.

A lot of teams already have begun fundraising, but now is the perfect time to organize a team to participate in the walk, said UCAN Executive Director Melody Chailland.

The walk will kick off at 9 a.m. at the Danny Bell Cancer Center. Chailland is asking everyone to mark their calendars and save the day.

The UCAN volunteers challenge everyone to “make a difference in the lives of local cancer patients while they are in the fight of their life,” Chailland said.

Volunteers feel like they are taking this fight to the streets, she said. More than $230,000 has been raised from the 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 continue to work.

“Start a team today or walk as an individual,” she said. “UCAN is excited about the power and potential of employees, friends and family joining together to support cancer patients in our communities in Butler, Stoddard, Wayne and Ripley counties. One of the most significant ways is to form a team and carry out fundraising activities to support UCAN. Let’s make an impact so no one fights alone.”

The walk honors White, who battled cancer with courage and grace, and many other cancer patients. All the money used by UCAN is raised locally and, according to Chailland, the group receives no grant funding.

There are no sponsorship levels and no fee to walk. The walk is to remember cancer patients, and raise awareness and funds to help patients battling cancer.

Several teams have been competing the past few years for the right to take possession of a traveling trophy.

Contact the UCAN office for additional information about forming a team.

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, members say.

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., Poplar Bluff, MO 63901-3396.