ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – A Delta County organization is gearing up for a spring fundraiser to help community members facing cancer diagnoses.
The Delta County Cancer Alliance (DCCA) is an entirely volunteer-run nonprofit that serves local cancer patients.
“We help about 800 people a year, but we have a database of about 1,200 people,” said DCCA President Gayle DeShambo. “When an individual is diagnosed with cancer, in their first year, they’re eligible for up to $800 in financial reimbursement towards travel, different medications that they may need, things in the home that they may not have. We provide durable medical equipment, nutritional resources. I can’t express enough what a difference that does make in people’s lives.”
Every year afterward, clients can receive up to $500 in assistance. The Cancer Alliance replenishes its funding through community efforts like the Luminary Event, which is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 11, at Blessed Hope Baptist Church in Escanaba.
“You purchase a bag in memory or in honor of loved ones,” Alliance Vice President Cindy Cass explained. “You can decorate your bag however you like. We have markers at the event. We put the candles in them and they go up on the altar, and they’re just beautiful.”
The event has had a few different homes and dates over the years.
“We used to have the luminary event down at the park in the summertime the night the City Band would play,” said Secretary Mary Pat Johnson, who has been with the nonprofit for about 15 years. “It was a long process. We had to get sand from the beach and actual candles that lit up, and we prayed that the bags didn’t catch on fire! We decided to do it at different times of the year. One time, we got snowed out. We keep trying to move it, and now it’s April.”
No matter the conditions, the event continues to this day because of the Alliance volunteers and supporters who always find ways to keep it going.
“We’ve got people that come in every year for it,” Cass said. “It’s kind of a spiritual event, an emotional event. It’s just nice to see people come for it.”
“The people that come that have lost someone, and they see their luminaries up there, they’re really touched,” Johnson said. “It’s a good memory, and then they have all these other people that can support them at the same time.”
Luminary bags can be purchased for $5 at the event or in advance at the DCCA office, which is located at 3430 Ludington Street, now through Friday between 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Alliance leaders say each contribution goes a long way toward making someone battling cancer feel seen, supported, and less alone.
“I’m finding more and more that this is very not typical to be able to have an organization like this run by solely volunteers that continues and continues and continues,” DeShambo said. “We’re really proud as a board that we’ve been able to withstand a lot of changes, a lot of challenges, and continue to provide this service.”
Blessed Hope Baptist Church is located at 2530 14th Avenue South. Light refreshments will be served during the event. For more information on the DCCA Luminary Event, click here or call (906) 786-0854.
