Cancer society honors volunteers at banquet

Four people received awards for their efforts to fight cancer.
BOARDMAN -- American Cancer Society Mahoning County Unit recognized volunteers during the 2004-05 fiscal year at its annual banquet Tuesday at The Georgetown, South Avenue.
Barb Barsch of Boardman, the unit's road to recovery coordinator, received the Health Promotions Award. She scheduled rides for more than 130 cancer patients who would have been without transportation to and from their treatment sites without this service.
Barsch has served the ACS as crusade chairwoman for the organization's door-to-door fund-raising campaign, and she is a board member.
George Kapsulis of Youngstown received the Income Development Award. He is active with the Boardman Relay for Life, which is held annually at Boardman Center Middle School. He is captain of the Boardman Rotary team, which raised more than $19,000 in 2005. For several years, the Boardman Rotary team has been one of the top fund-raising teams at the Boardman Relay.
Sara Maroni of Leetonia received the Volunteer of the Year Award. She is on the ACS board in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, the Man to Man prostate cancer facilitator, and a member of the colorectal cancer task force. In addition, she is a committee member of the Cattle Baron's Ball and is active with Relay For Life events in Mahoning and Trumbull counties.
Advocacy Award
Michele Schromofsky of Boardman received the Advocacy Award. She is the facilitator of the colorectal cancer support group in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. In addition, she will represent Mahoning County as an ACS ambassador at the upcoming Celebration of the Hill in Washington, D.C., in September. There she will talk to federal lawmakers about cancer research and funding.
"Without volunteers, there is no American Cancer Society," said Jo-Ann Crank, executive director of the Mahoning Area ACS. "Every fund-raising event, every program and everything we accomplish is because of the support from thousands of volunteers."
Accomplishments
The following are some of the 2004-05 accomplishments of the Mahoning County Unit ACS:
Office volunteers contributed 3,300 hours at the Mahoning Unit office in Canfield.
Eighty women who were undergoing cancer treatment participated in the Look Good Feel Better program, which taught them how to apply makeup and take care of their complexion and hair.
Seventy women in the Reach to Recovery breast cancer program learned how to rebuild their strength after breast cancer surgery by talking to a breast cancer survivor who has traveled the cancer journey.
Sponsored a colorectal cancer summit that 63 health professionals and educators attended, one of the best attended summits in the state.
Provided $1,000 scholarships to five young adults in Mahoning County who overcame cancer and decided to attend a U.S. accredited college or university.
Sixty schools participated in the Buckeye Best program, which makes it a priority to educate children in the areas of tobacco, nutrition and physical education.
Collected 2,811 signatures from registered voters in Mahoning County during round one of the Smoke Free Ohio Campaign (the second round will begin in May).
A total of 1,096 cancer survivors participated at one of the six Relay For Life events, giving Mahoning County the most in the United States in the population bracket of 250,000 to 499,000.
Raised more than $926,000 from special events such as the Relay For Life, golf, spinning, and donations from people and businesses throughout the county, an increase of $45,000 from 2003 to 2004.
Residents who are interested in volunteering with the ACS may call (330) 533-8240 or (800) 227-2345. The Web site is www.cancer.org.