In the year that I've been volunteering for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Southern Dallas County, I have discovered that often people confuse our event for other cancer charities.

Some people are under the impression that all the money donated to each organization goes for the same things. Here's a quick explanation on how the American Cancer Society differs from some of the others.

Katie's Crusaders is a local non-profit run by my good friend Katie Mangan. Katie is a breast cancer survivor and the money raised by her organization is used to help women in our area who are currently undergoing breast cancer treatments to pay their out of pocket medical expenses. To qualify for Katie's Crusaders, you must live in Iowa, preferably the local Des Moines metro area, and currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Because Katie's Crusaders is a small, local organization, they are only able to help about 6 to 8 women a year.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure is a very well known non-profit that has brought breast cancer to the attention of the world. When most people hear the word cancer they think pink ribbons and Komen's Race for the Cure. Komen has raised a lot of money for breast cancer research and education.

Other cancer specific non-profit charities, like The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Testicular Cancer Society and the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, are all worthy charities, too. But like the Susan G. Komen organization, they only fund research for their specific cancer causes.

The American Cancer Society uses their money to fund research on ALL cancers.  In this way they are sometimes able to see connections between two unrelated cancers which can lead to alternate therapies. Other than not being cancer type specific, I haven't really given you much reason for donating to our American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Southern Dallas County event. When you donate money to our event, your money stays right here in Dallas County and our state of Iowa.

The funds are used to help women here in Dallas County to buy wigs if their insurance company won't cover them. It is used to buy gas cards for cancer patients in our county that need to drive into Des Moines or Iowa City for a doctor appointment or treatment. It pays for the Look Good Feel Better program which teaches women how to care for their skin and the side effects that chemo and radiation have on it.

The money we raise is used to sponsor researchers at ISU and University of Iowa as well as the Hope Lodge in Iowa City. Wait a minute...Hope Lodge in Iowa City? How does that help Dallas County? Hope Lodge is a place that a cancer patient and a care giver can stay free of charge, while they are undergoing treatment in Iowa City. People that actually live in Iowa City aren't able to stay there.

I am hoping that you will join us on June 8, 2013 at the Waukee High School Football Stadium/Track for our American Cancer Society Relay For Life Southern Dallas County, IA. Our event starts at 5 p.m. and ends at 11 p.m. We are currently looking for companies to sponsors us or make donations for our silent auctions. We need teams and individuals to walk and fund raise for us. And we especially need cancer survivors and caregivers so we can celebrate and cheer with you!

For more information email me at relay4lifesdc@gmail.com or you can register online at www.relayforlife.org/southerndallascountyia. To find out more about The American Cancer Society go to www.cancer.org.