There are always lots of things going on across southwest Michigan. Communities from the Lake Michigan shore to northern Indiana will soon be gearing up for dozens of festival, events and community celebrations in coming months.

For each one of these, there are hundreds of people working behind the scenes to ensure everything goes smoothly. You likely won’t see them and they don’t get near the credit that they deserve, but they are the engines behind many of our successes.

Chris Porter is one of those people.

By day, Porter is the assistant principal at Niles High School. In his spare time he is involved in the community in a number of ways, not the least of which is being a team member for the Niles-Buchanan Relay of Life.

Porter and other organizers are hard at work on putting together this year’s event, set to be from 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday, July 18 at Niles High School. An initiative of the American Cancer Society, relay is designed to raise awareness and funds for research in the battle against cancer.

The local group’s goal of $80,000 is a lofty one, but it couldn’t be more important.

Cancer has touched everyone’s life in some way. The relay is the world’s largest fundraising event dedicated to overcoming this heartbreaking disease, with more than 4 million people coming together to donate, participate or support the events each year.

And it is making a difference. Here are some facts from the ACS.

• More than $4 billion has gone toward research since 1946.

• Fulfilled more than 1 million requests for information.

• Saved patients more than $38 million in lodging by providing a free place to stay when traveling for cancer treatments.

• Have seen a 20 percent decline in cancer-related death rates since 1991. That translates to 1.3 million lives saved.

Every dollar makes a difference and the organization offers this breakdown as to how money raised during Relay for Life events goes toward this important cause:

• $10 can ensure a cancer patient has a ride to their treatments

• $25 would connect 25 patients to life-saving information and resources via the information line

• $50 can give seven rides to life-saving treatments for a cancer patient who desperately needs them.

• $85 can help a cancer patient suffering from the physical side effects of treatment to look and feel better by working with a volunteer beauty professional

$100 can guide two people with personalized one-on-one support throughout their cancer journey

• $250 can ensure a cancer patient has a home away from home during treatment at Hope Lodge

• $250 can help support a top cancer researcher working on what might be the next major breakthrough

 

The people working behind the scenes of events like the Relay for Life and others make countless sacrifices for the greater good of our communities.

Each of us should ask how we can do our part.

 

Michael Caldwell is the publisher of Leader Publications LLC. He can be reached at (269) 687-7700 or by email at mike.caldwell@leaderpub.com.