CD contains works by those affected by cancer

Proceeds will benefit the Pediatric Cancer Program at Tod Children's Hospital.
AUSTINTOWN -- A new locally written and produced CD, "Relay the Message: Songs of Hope by Cancer Patients, Survivors, and Those Who Care," was released Wednesday at a party sponsored by the Jessica Moorhead Foundation for Hope.
The CD has 17 original songs and poems written by cancer survivors and patients, family members and their loved ones, ages 14 to 80.
"Anyone whose life has been changed by cancer will relate to the range of experiences and emotions that have been given voice in the CD," said Jim Cyphert, a local businessman.
The $15 CD goes on sale Friday at the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life at Austintown High School stadium and other area locations: England Custom Furniture Direct, Boardman; Glorious Homes, Austintown; Optiview, Austintown and Niles; and Send It Packin' Plus, Austintown.
Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Pediatric Cancer Program at Tod Children's Hospital.
Performers
Featured on the CD are Brenda Rider, an Austintown breast cancer survivor; singer Janeen Williams of Canfield; and Paul Skowron of Youngstown, a singer/songwriter; singing "Relay the Message," which they wrote. Skowron is a member of the Jessica Moorhead Foundation for Hope board and Jessica's uncle.
The song was recorded with backup vocals sung by the R.O.C.c.K. -- Raising Our Commitment to Cancer Kids -- Choir, made up of kids with cancer being treated at Tod hospital, where Jessica, who died of leukemia in March 2003, received treatment.
The R.O.C.c.K. Choir, with sponsorship from Rider's foundation, A Way With Words, and the Jessica Moorhead Foundation, has performed at a number of community events and received a Young Philanthropist's Award in 2003.
Skowron, who led the area band White Noise during the 1980s, assembled musicians who donated their time and talents for the CD. With donations from Larry Hendricks, a local businessman and a member of the Jessica Moorhead Foundation, the CD was recorded at Tune Town in Newton Falls.
Rider said not everything submitted could fit on the CD. She said she is going to produce a book, "A Way With Words," which will contain those submissions that were not included.
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