BY TRACY LEE TATE
Times Editor
LAKE BUTLER — Almost everyone knows someone with cancer and most of these have also lost a friend, neighbor or loved one to this dread group of diseases. The only way to find a cure lies in research, which costs a great deal of money. In Lake Butler, Lake Butler Hospital and Shadd Trucking have teamed up to hold a 5K Walk (run if you wish), the proceeds of which will go to the American Cancer Society to help support this research.
The event is set for Sept. 24, 2022, starting at Lake Butler Hospital. Pre-registration is available online (runsignup.com – when asked for event name, type in United for a Cure) or you can register prior to the event at 7 a.m. The walk will start at 8:30 a.m. at the hospital and circle around to return there. After the walk there will be guest speakers, many of which are cancer survivors and food trucks will be on hand.
The Maven Mammography bus was scheduled to be at the event but had to reschedule due to equipment issues, so will not be at the event but will be on hand giving mammograms at the hospital on Sat. Oct. 1 to keep appointments. There are still a few appointments available. An appointment can be scheduled by calling Tina Lloyd at Lake Butler Hospital at 386-496-9263.
According to Lloyd, with Lake Butler Hospital, the hospital had been discussing holding some sort of event when a chance conversation with people from Shadd Trucking at the hospitals recent Back to School Bash led to a partnership between the two.
Carita S. Wall, from Shadd Trucking, approached the hospital after her sister, Cassie Driggers, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Driggers has spent the past year going through chemotherapy treatment.
“It has been an amazing group effort to sponsor this event,” Wall said. “We are excited to come together as a community to show our compassion and support for those families affected by cancer, to raise awareness and join in the fight for a cure. Every dollar raised will go to the American Cancer Society.
Fund will be raised from the walker’s registration fees and the sale of “In memory of…” ribbons – made of wood and displayed on the lawn in front of the hospital. The “ribbon” will be in a color indicating the type of cancer that the person has (or had) and their name. The “ribbons” will be displayed through the end of September, with the pink, breast cancer ribbons kept in place through October to acknowledge Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The cost is $50 and ribbons may be purchased at Lake Butler Hospital or by calling Lloyd at (386)496-9596. Organizers say that the ribbons are equally appropriate to honor loved ones, living or deceased.
So far, the event organizers have raised $32,951 of their goal of having $50,000 to donate to the ACS. This includes the sale of 82 ribbons, the registration of 178 walkers and a donation of $2,000 from the Fifth Annual Big Willie Dice Run Motorcycle Event held last Saturday, Sept. 17. The total will increase through the entry fees paid on-site by walkers the morning of the event. Donations will also be accepted from those who choose not to walk. Walkers who signed up before Sept. 13 will have t-shirt waiting for them in the appropriate size, while later registering walkers will have to take their chances of finding the right size from t-shirts on site the day of the event.
“The estimated numbers of new cancer cases in 2022 in Florida will be 152,600, with 1,918,030 new cases in the U.S.,” Lloyd said. “The very thought of getting cancer can be heart wrenching. Most everyone you come in contact with has been affected by cancer whether directly or indirectly.”
The community is certainly coming together in the effort to find a cure, with many local business, as well as others, acting as sponsors for the event. These include: Lake Butler Hospital, Liberty Trucking, Shadd Trucking, West Fraser, CMD Trailer Sales and Leasing, North Florida Equipment Rentals, Pritchett Trucking, The Barber Group – Raymond James, Union Lasteel Metal Buildings, Dr. Paul Schilling, Roberts Land and Timber, Magnolia Family Dental, Robby Worrell Construction, Powers Development Group, Big Willie “5”, Almond Oil Company, Archer Milton Funeral Home, Edward Jones – Courtnie Douglas, Elite Towing, HoBo Tractor, Ink & Thread Graphics, Tom Jenkins Electric, L.V. Hiers Inc. Petroleum Products, Nutrition Hideaway, R.O.T. Ranch Construction, Spires IGA Market, Teal Tile Carpet One, Palm RV Park and Community State Bank.
Members of the community are encouraged to come out and encourage the walkers, many of whom are cancer survivors themselves, and come to the hospital when the walkers return to enjoy fun, fellowship, food and music and listen to people who have come through the hardship to live another day.
Time is short to get involved and participate, but any questions can be directed to Tina Lloyd at Lake Butler Hospital 386-496-2323 or Mendy Whitaker at Shadd Trucking 386-496-2631.
