|
|
|
Editor:
In 2011, Leavenworth County was one of more than 5,100 communities across the United States to hold an American Cancer Society Relay For Life. In fact, 3.5 million participants nationwide raised $385 million for the fight against cancer last year.
The annual Relay For Life has become the signature event and primary fund raiser for the American Cancer Society.
The first Relay for Life in Leavenworth County was conducted in 1993, but most people are unaware that that local event actually started at Fort Leavenworth. Col. Don Kasperik, Medical Department Activity commander and cancer survivor, organized the first local relay and chaired its planning committee from its inception until 1996. In those days, many of the participating teams came from Fort Leavenworth and the planning committee actually had its monthly meetings in the MEDDAC conference room, after hours.
When Kasperik left the area in 1996, chairmanship transferred to Marguerite Strange, former mayor of Leavenworth and a local community leader.
Over the years, participation by various local churches, hospitals, businesses, service organizations, and groups of employees, friends, and family members supplemented various teams from post. Participation grew until 2010, when a record 49 teams took part in the relay and raised a local record $104,000.
Throughout the relay’s 19-year history, Fort Leavenworth has always been well represented at the relay, with its participation peaking one year when organized relay teams represented MEDDAC, the Dental Activity, the Combined Arms Center Command Group, the 705th Military Police Battalion, the 500th Military Police Detachment, Headquarters Company CAC, several sections from the Command and General Staff College, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Armed Forces Insurance and Unified School District 207.
In 2011, the post was represented by groups from MEDDAC, the Office of the Adjutant General, the Directorate of Public Works and Armed Forces Insurance.
If any groups of employees or Soldiers would like to learn more about the Leavenworth County American Cancer Society Relay For Life, please call Dave Davis, the publicity chairperson at (913) 651-3817. The 2012 event is scheduled for June 1-2 at the Warren Middle School stadium.
Dave Davis
Leavenworth
Editor:
In 2011, Leavenworth County was one of more than 5,100 communities across the United States to hold an American Cancer Society Relay For Life. In fact, 3.5 million participants nationwide raised $385 million for the fight against cancer last year.
The annual Relay For Life has become the signature event and primary fund raiser for the American Cancer Society.
The first Relay for Life in Leavenworth County was conducted in 1993, but most people are unaware that that local event actually started at Fort Leavenworth. Col. Don Kasperik, Medical Department Activity commander and cancer survivor, organized the first local relay and chaired its planning committee from its inception until 1996. In those days, many of the participating teams came from Fort Leavenworth and the planning committee actually had its monthly meetings in the MEDDAC conference room, after hours.
When Kasperik left the area in 1996, chairmanship transferred to Marguerite Strange, former mayor of Leavenworth and a local community leader.
Over the years, participation by various local churches, hospitals, businesses, service organizations, and groups of employees, friends, and family members supplemented various teams from post. Participation grew until 2010, when a record 49 teams took part in the relay and raised a local record $104,000.
Throughout the relay’s 19-year history, Fort Leavenworth has always been well represented at the relay, with its participation peaking one year when organized relay teams represented MEDDAC, the Dental Activity, the Combined Arms Center Command Group, the 705th Military Police Battalion, the 500th Military Police Detachment, Headquarters Company CAC, several sections from the Command and General Staff College, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Armed Forces Insurance and Unified School District 207.
In 2011, the post was represented by groups from MEDDAC, the Office of the Adjutant General, the Directorate of Public Works and Armed Forces Insurance.
If any groups of employees or Soldiers would like to learn more about the Leavenworth County American Cancer Society Relay For Life, please call Dave Davis, the publicity chairperson at (913) 651-3817. The 2012 event is scheduled for June 1-2 at the Warren Middle School stadium.
Dave Davis
Leavenworth
