'Numbers are good' for UCAN walk

They came, they walked in love, they remembered and the rain waited.

United Cancer Assistance Network Walk Board President Dennis Hanes welcomed the approximately 1,200 people to the eighth annual Sarah Jarboe White UCAN Walk on Saturday at the Danny Bell Cancer Center.

“Welcome to a good day,” said Hanes adding the walkers were there “to love and help someone.”

He said, they were there to celebrate victory and service and to “walk for someone special and to end the day simply and to feel better. You are walking with memories and the loved ones in the memories will be with you every step of the way.”

Hanes shared comments from Sarah Jarboe White’s parents George and Katie Jarboe with the crowd in which they said their daughter is “remembered with tears and many, many smiles.”

UCAN board member and District 153 Rep. Jeff Shawan shared his thoughts about fellow board member Kay Jewell and “her long walk with cancer.” During her battle, Jewell wanted to resign from the UCAN board, but was persuaded to just take a few months to gain strength. Shawan remembers Jewell did return to the board, as well as volunteering. Jewell died Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017.

“Numbers are good,” said UCAN Executive Director Melody Chailland. “The event raises the funding for about one third of what we spend yearly assisting cancer patients.”

During the eight walks, Chailland said, a quarter of million dollars has been raised to help cancer patients. The total raised this year and the winning teams will be announced later.

The fundraising success is credited to “a lot of new people and a lot of old people,” Chailland said.

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Editor's Note: Read more in the Tuesday edition.