Bland County cancer survivors will be treated to luau

John Goins will be among the cancer survivors attending this Saturday’s Bland County Relay for Life Survivor Luau at Central United Methodist Church’s fellowship hall beginning at 12:30 p.m. The county treasurer and all other cancer survivors in the county will be treated to a day of fun with food and prizes.

“I think the get-together is a good thing,” Goins said earlier this week. “”There are quite a few people here in Bland County surviving cancer. I think that gives us all hope.”

According to him, his kidney cancer was diagnosed three years ago through a routine X-ray after he suffered a bout of kidney stones and walking pneumonia. A small mass on the outside of his kidney was removed without damage to the organ.

“I didn’t have to have any treatments,” Goins noted. “The doctor found it early enough that it hadn’t damaged my kidney. The mass was all on the outside of my kidney and the tumor was removed without taking out my kidney.”

He has undergone a checkup for the last two years and will continue for three more at which time he will have a more extensive set of tests.

“I encourage everyone to have a routine checkup once a year,” Goins said. “Early detection is so important with any health problem. So many people put off going to the doctor until they feel bad. Checkups are critical. Your health is one of the most important things you can have.”

While the Survivors’ Walk is an important part of the American Cancer Society Relay for Life for Bland County, the committee has provided a pre-Relay for Life event for cancer survivors for several years. It honors them with a luncheon and other activities.

This year’s survivors’ event will have a luau. Those attending may dress in their favorite Hawaiian shirt.

“We’d love to have all local survivors come out with their caregivers for a ton of food, Survivor Bingo and lots of fun and fellowship,” said April Dutton, the county’s Relay for Life chairman. “Being with our cancer survivors keeps us, the committee, in focus and reminds us why we do what we do.”

The 2011 Bland County Relay for Life is set for Friday, June 24, and Saturday, June 25. It will be held at the Bland County Fairgrounds.

Last year’s local Relay for Life raised $70,527.44 for the American Cancer Society. The goal had been $55,000.

All money collected is used by the American Cancer Society to fund research projects and other programs.