Beech Tree News Network

Everyone believes his or her cause is more worthy, more deserving than all other causes. Often times, people get so carried away with raising money, giving money, and making money that they begin to forget to even ask what their money is going towards. If contributors  knew exactly where his or her money were going, would they give less, more, or the same amount? Would they give any money at all? The American Cancer society is a worthy cause which has different categories that benefit cancer patients and caregivers.
    First, one of the places the donations to the American Cancer Society supports is the Hope Lodge. The Hope Lodge is a “home away from home” for cancer patients receiving current treatment. The requirements for the Hope Lodge are the following: cancer patients must be undergoing cancer treatment (chemotherapy or radiation), and patients must be an hour drive away from his or her hospital. Patients and one caregiver are able to stay at the Hope Lodge free of cost. Their stay includes a room (bed, kitchen, and bath area), food, and the reassurance of being close to the patient’s hospital during treatments. The Hope Lodge is just one place contributors support when donating to the American Cancer Society.
    Another program donations benefit is Look Good Feel Better. When cancer patients receive chemotherapy, their hair falls out approximately fourteen days later. When the hair falls out, this often includes eyebrows and eyelashes as well. When a woman who is battling cancer attends Look Good Feel Better, she receives a free tote of make-up along with one-on-one help on how to draw on eyebrows and apply fake eyelashes. When health is an issue, the way someone feels about their appearance plays a role in their recuperation. Look Good Feel Better is another program that American Cancer Society’s donations benefits.
    Another area donations support is for wigs and prosthetics. Wigs purchased in a wig store costs an average of $1,000. When women (or men) are off work due to cancer treatments, not to mention the doctor bills that will have to be paid, $1,000 for a wig is totally unreasonable. Luckily through the American Cancer Society, wigs are given to cancer patients, free of charge. Women who had to have either a single or double mastectomy, due to breast cancer treatment, receive free prosthetics and specially-made bras that without the donations to the American Cancer Society would not be made possible.
    According to the American Cancer Society’s website, “No single nongovernmental, not-for-profit organization has invested more to find the causes and cures for cancer.” Along with the Hope Lodge, Look Good Feel Better, and wigs and prosthetics, the American Cancer Society also donates monies to finding a cure for cancer. Sometimes just knowing how the money being spent makes it much easier to donate. Just being able to know that a simple donation can make a cancer patient’s life a little easier is definitely worth a donation to the American Cancer Society.
   
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 Audrey is the daughter of Scott and Tina Porter of the Sandy Creek Community.  In honor of her mother, Audrey organized “Tina’s Toopers” , a relay for life team.  This will be the team’s second year to participate in Friday’s event. She has nominated as a Kohl’s Care Scholarship nominee for her volunteer work with community cancer-awareness events.