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Cancer relief group strives to make a difference in Vernon County
Vernon County Cancer Relief is a group that just celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. The group was founded in 1987 by a group of local people who saw a need other organizations weren't meeting and decided to fill the gap. Mike Turnbull, president, stressed that the group was local and all money raised was kept locally.
The help the group provides, in the form of vouchers, must be used locally, whether it is to buy gas for a trip to an out-of-town physician or to help the patient's family buy groceries.
"We provide financial assistance to any resident of Vernon County, regardless of income," Turnbull said. "The way we help is to provide vouchers with local businesses, gas vouchers, for groceries, for prescriptions and occasionally for utility bills."
Board member Carol Branham said the group was entirely made up of volunteers who were dedicated to helping cancer victims out. Some of the board members had cancer themselves and others had friends or family members with cancer.
"A point I like to stress is that it's a volunteer organization with great volunteers on the board," Branham said. "They raise money and keep it local, it all goes back to the clients in the community. There's some expense for postage and stationery, but it's minor and most of it is donated by board members. Most volunteers are great at networking and who are from a wide range of backgrounds."
The group is an member of the United Way and doesn't try to provide the same services as other agencies.
"We're a United Way agency, we apply every year," Branham said. "We don't really compete with other agencies, the help we provide isn't like the help other agencies provide. The American Cancer Society provides money for research and we're more hands on. We're locally administered by local volunteers and the money we raise stays in Vernon County. There's a difference between what we do and what they do. We don't get any funding from the American Cancer Society."
With gas prices so high and not liable to come down very quickly or very far the group is looking at new ways to raise money.
"With gas prices increasing, that impacts on how many people we can help," Turnbull said. "We have to look at different revenue sources, we need to continue to add to what we already do."
With that in mind the group has decided to hold a fund-raising dinner Aug. 22, at the Eagles Lodge.
The entree is something not often seen for such dinners -- chateaubriand. Appetizers will be included along with a salad and dessert in the $25 per person ticket price.
"This is going to be a nice, sit-down dinner," Branham said. "It will be a fun event with good food."
"And maybe a few surprises in store," Turnbull added.
Local celebrities and officials will help serve the meal so far a dozen have said they would serve: Monica Compton, Cindy Johnson, Dr. William Turner, Barney Fisher, Bonnie McCord, Bill Denman, Dr. Jason Meisenheimer, Tim Wells, David Litton, Betsy McReynolds and Greg and Melissa Hoffman.
Tickets for the dinner can be purchased at TeamBank, Heritage State Bank and Metz Bank or by calling Turnbull at (816) 564-2860 or Branham at (417) 448-4529.