By Chris Sholly, Lebanon Daily News, Pa.
Aug. 5–A quarter in today’s economy won’t buy much. But 64,000 quarters — that’s about $16,000 — can buy a lot.
That’s this year’s goal for the WLBR/WQIC Conquer Cancer with a Quarter campaign, which is expected to top that goal. Proceeds from the campaign benefit the Lebanon Unit of the American Cancer Society.
The Lebanon radio stations kicked off their 26th annual edition of the campaign at the Lebanon Valley Mall yesterday.
Carol Checket, volunteer coordinator for the campaign, said the campaign raised $20,318 last year, and $24,000 in 2006 — it’s best year to date.
“A lot of individuals and families have been touched by cancer,” Checket said. Checket, too, has had personal experience with the disease. Her daughter, Kristen, died of cancer in 1994.
The first campaign — the idea of Ed Burris, retired general manager of the station — was launched in 1982, and raised $1,400. Since then, the campaign has raised a total of $326,000.
Greg Lyons, WLBR’s program director and morning-show host, said both the AM station and its sister, WQIC FM, are broadcasting live from the mall throughout the week.
If you would like to contribute, there are two scales with boxes at the mall in which you can drop your quarters, Lyons said.
“The kids like to come in and see the scales move,” Lyons said.
People often drop quarters they have in their pockets into the boxes, he said. But they also bring their quarters in paper bags and boxes, he added.
This year’s event will feature speakers who will cover topics ranging from cancer research to nutrition and diet to cancer protocols. The speakers will join Laura LaBeau on her show from 9 to 11 a.m. each day at the mall.
Sandra Parker Hall, extension educator of family and consumer sciences at Penn State Cooperative Extension in Lebanon County, was to talk about nutrition and exercise today. The schedule for the rest of the week: Dr. Ruben Perez of Good Samaritan Hospital’s oncology group, tomorrow; Chandra Belani of the Penn State Cancer Institute, who will discuss cancer protocols, Thursday; and Dr. John Patrick Welch, a local family physician who will talk about his initial contact with patients after they have been diagnosed with the disease, Friday. Yesterday, Dr. Michael Verderame, associate dean of Penn State’s College of Medicine at Hershey Medical Center, talked about cancer.
Checket said there also will be outreach and educational programs on WQIC, with topics such as how to look and feel better, and smoking-cessation programs. Mike Ebersole will host the show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on WQIC, and Carson Shuey will host it from 2 to 7 p.m.
Nine businesses are co-sponsoring the campaign this year.
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