The Clinton County Relay For Life Committee meeting held its first meeting of the new year last Thursday, January 29 at the Early Childhood Center, and what few members were on hand received news of something of an honor for the local program.

Prior to the start of the business meeting, Adam Smedberg, RFL Central Kentucky Division specialist, presented Clinton County’s committee with a banner in honor of the local program being in the top 10 percent per capita in Kentucky for the most money raised for the American Cancer Society in 2014.

Despite the size and smaller population of Clinton County, the local Relay For Life has, for several years, been in the top percentile per capita of residents, for funds raised.

During the meeting, there was discussion about the upcoming Relay For Life event that is scheduled for late April.

There will be a carnival theme for this year’s event to take place at the high school, with several activities in a shortened time frame. The event is expected to begin around 3 p.m. in the afternoon and conclude around 10:30 p.m. that night, in lieu of the usual all-night schedule in years past.

Several early activities are being planned for kids, including bouncy houses, a children’s color run and many others, with those events to be followed by the annual opening ceremony and cancer survivor lap around 6 p.m.

Each participating team will have booths set up and doing different activities throughout the evening and there is expected to be participation from the high school JROTC, Clinton County Alumni Band and possibly the CCHS Band.

Smedberg also reminded teams that they need to be registered for the Relay by next Saturday, February 14.

There was also discussion on luminaries, sponsorships and so forth and Smedberg said the local Relay For Life is running about $4,000 ahead of money already collected compared to the same time a year ago.

In 2014, a little over $52,000 was raised locally, with a goal this year of around $56,000 being set.

Every day, the American Cancer Society is saving lives. Here are some ways they make an impact each year:

* 32,430,388 visits are made to cancer.org (375,680 in Kentucky).

* 668,064 calls are answered by trained cancer information specialists who give answers and support to those who call the 24-hour information line at 1-800-227-2345 (8,433 in Kentucky).

* 15,628 visits are made to breast cancer patients by outreach to recovery volunteers (211 visits in Kentucky).

* 1,030,315 trips taking cancer patients to treatment are provided by American Cancer Society Road to Recovery volunteers and other transportation programs (29,590 in Kentucky).

* 411,225 nights of free or reduced-rate lodging are provided to cancer patients and their families traveling away from home for treatment (16,687 in Kentucky).

* 98,501 cancer patients who are uninsured or on Medicaid receive assistance (1.798 in Kentucky).

On any given day…

Cancer never sleeps. It does not discriminate, and one is not immune. Cancer can strike any family, in any community, at any time. The only way to fight it is to be right there in those communities and with those families…every single day. That’s the great strength of the American Cancer Society. Thanks to our committed volunteers, we never sleep either. We are here to help every family…in every community…every day.

* On any given day in the United States, more than 4,400 people will hear the devastating words, “You have cancer.”

* On any given day more than 1,500 families will lose a loved one to the disease in the United States.

But the American Cancer Society is doing everything without our power to change that.

* On any given day, our cancer.org website will receive more than 46,000 hits from people looking for lifesaving information about cancer prevention, treatment, and support.

* On any given day, more than 2,500 people will find knowledge, resources, comfort, and compassion from a trained cancer information specialist at our toll-free call center.

* On any given day, the American Cancer Society will provide more than 1,600 people with cancer-related information and programs.

* On any given day, nearly 1,000 cancer patients and caregivers receive free lodging from one of the American Cancer Society Hope Lodges nationwide.

* On any given day, our grassroots force of more than three million passionate volunteers is tirelessly seeking to save lives from cancer.

* On any given day, more than 130 women will be reminded that they are still beautiful–no matter what cancer does to them–through our Look Good..Feel Better program.

* On any given day, more than 400 cancer patients and their loved ones will find solace, hope, and inspiration from someone who has “been there” through our Cancer Survivors Network.

* On any given day, almost 100 wives, husbands, daughters, sisters, brothers and friends who have been diagnosed with breast cancer meet a trained Reach to Recovery survivor and volunteer, who provides living proof that they can beat this disease.

And the proof that our efforts are working?

* On any given day, nearly 14 million cancer survivors are enjoying rewarding productive lives.

The American Cancer Society touches so many people on a given day…because dedicated volunteers and supporters like you are committed to making a difference in the fight against cancer–every day.

A reminder to readers as well, the annual “Pink Out” night at CCHS to honor cancer victims and survivors will be this Friday night, February 6, in the games against Glasgow.

The next Clinton County Relay For Life meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 17 at 5 p.m. at the Early Childhood Center. All team captains or any interested persons are encouraged to attend.