Written by: April King & Izik Z. Cox
Over 200 Residents of West Liberty and the Surrounding area attended the “Paint Loco Pink” event in downtown West Liberty on Thursday evening.
The Breast Cancer Awareness event contained many survivors of the vigorous disease, their families, the West Liberty Youth Football Teams, and the Cheerleading squad.
Guest Speaker, Tammy Allison from the Logan County Cancer Society spoke to the crowd about the organization’s lasting impact on the county’s community, as well as sharing various statistics about Breast Cancer.
These Included:
- Every day, more than 700 women across the United States are diagnosed with Breast Cancer.
- Breast Cancer is the 2nd most prevalent variant of Cancer in Logan County, succumbed to only skin cancer.
Tammy Allison also shared statistics of the Logan County Cancer Society:
- Over the past 6 years of LCCS, more than 1,500 residents were cared for in their battle with Cancer, totaling nearly $908,000 worth of care.
- In 2022 alone, LCCS provided aid to 283 Logan County community members, totaling nearly $194,000 dollars worth of care
Logan County Cancer Society provides a wide range of services to its clients: free annual wigs for hair loss victims, medications, supplies, and transportation to treatment.
West Liberty Mayor Jill McKelvey was in attendance at the event, encouraging her citizens to care for themselves, to provide for their families, and to show support to local survivors. Mayor McKelvey also recognized the lasting impact Cancer Awareness events have had on her community, growing from last year’s 60 in attendance to this year’s 200 plus.
Bellefontaine celebrated and marked the occasion right in front of the Holland Theater and then moved in front of the Logan County Cout house, concluding with the lighting of the fountain pink and getting a survivor photo.
Host and Breast Cancer Survivor Roni Lile talks about her passion for helping and honoring cancer fighters, survivors, and those who lost the battle:
Christie Barnes from the Logan County Cancer Society passes along some local statistics:
Below is the Proclamation made by the Logan County Commissioners and Bellefontaine Mayor Ben Stahler, dubbing October Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
WHEREAS, HOPE is a crucial factor in the overall well-being of patients during their breast cancer journey, and
WHEREAS, patients and their families often feel lost, afraid, and alone when navigating breast cancer, and
WHEREAS, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, and
WHEREAS, the impact of breast cancer is wide-ranging, affecting individuals and society as a whole, here in our community, throughout the United States and around the world, and
WHEREAS, in 2023, an estimated 300,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in people in the U.S., and
WHEREAS, about 30% of all newly diagnosed cancers in women each year are breast cancer, and
WHEREAS, the opportunity and privilege exist for all in the community to come together to rise up and support people who have been impacted by breast cancer, and
WHEREAS, the month of October is recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease, and
WHEREAS the City of Bellefontaine and County of Logan continue to support the efforts of the Logan County Cancer Society the American Cancer Society and other agencies who wage this war every day to make a difference in the lives of those affected by Breast Cancer.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the Mayor of the City of Bellefontaine and the Logan County Commissioners do hereby recognize October 2023 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We join with other communities across Ohio and the Nation to support any and all efforts to support families and individuals affected by breast cancer and share the worthy goals of this month-long observance. It is our hope that research and development will continue to find answers in this arena, as well.
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Cancer has left a nasty mark on most of our beautiful county, events like this help fight for a cure.
For more information or help from the Logan County Cancer Society, visit: www.maryrutan.org/LCCS
Huntsville & DeGraff look to jump in on the celebration in 2024.
