Events Calendar
In This Section
Hospitals are grateful for their volunteers
Akron, Summit County jobless rates increase
Future members of school board get early lessons
Browns lose game they never should have lost
After 30 years at the helm of Akron Children's, Considine still looks to future
Utility mines new power source
Most Read Stories
2 men shot during party in Fairlawn
Cancellation of Christmas not an option
Akron man killed in crash on his street
Several people hurt in Akron crash
Victim of beating in Kent last week is declared dead at Akron hospital
Akron Children's Hospital CEO, wife announce $1 million gift to support research
Police: Pennsylvania man killed misbehaving puppy before Steelers game
Akron Circle K store robbed for second time this month
KSU suspends basketball player
Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
Blogs:
Pets:
A Dog Named Christmas – Pet for the Holidays
The Heldenfiles:
Viewing Notes
Patrick McManamon:
Of pass interference and alleged "fake" injuries
Akron Zips:
No. 1 Akron to play Stanford next
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Audio: Mangini disputes Poteat call, accuses Lions of faking injuries
Kent State Sports:
Flashes travel to Florida Atlantic
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeye Football – Present and Future
Varsity Letters:
Gulley to visit Central Michigan in December
All Da King's Men:
The Onion, By Any Other Name…
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Glaring Contradictions
Akron Law Café:
Don't Try to Have Fun if you are Depressed
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
What Automotive Thing Are You Thankful For?
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Faye Dunaway to be Evicted?
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Monique asks how to get tickets for the Polar Express.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why I am Glad I live in NEO
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
Two award recipients devoted to service
By Jewell Cardwell
Beacon Journal columnist
Published on Wednesday, Jan 16, 2008
Major bouquets to Lucas Rife — a freshman at North Canton's Hoover High School — for his huge ''giving back'' efforts on behalf of cancer research, especially as it relates to Akron Children's Hospital.
It's what you do when so much has been given to you is Lucas' reasoning.
Lucas was diagnosed when he was 6 with osteosarcoma or Ewing's sarcoma — a type of bone cancer — in his left shin.
His journey to wellness — uncertain at first — went on for 48 weeks and involved chemotherapy and a nine-hour surgery that removed the infected bone and replaced it with a cadaver's bone, rod, plate and several screws.
He missed half of first grade and all of second grade at North Canton's Clearmount Elementary School.
After he went into remission, Lucas took it upon himself to become a ''Change Bandit'' for the hospital's ''Have a Heart, Do Your Part'' radiothon with WKDD (98.1-FM).
He has raised nearly $5,000 for the cause. ''It makes me feel good inside to know that I'm giving back to those who have helped me and to those patients who have come after me,'' Lucas told a hospital official. ''I'm helping two ends — the giving end and the receiving end.''
Lucas, who plays trumpet in the Hoover High marching band and is an assistant manager for the boys' basketball team, was honored in 2004 by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, receiving the group's Children & Philanthropy Award for his altruism.
The big ''Have a Heart . . . '' radiothon party — the hospital's biggest fundraiser — will be Feb. 8-10.
For more information about the Change Bandits, please call 330-543-8340 or 330-543-8994.
Eyeglasses found
Kathy Skinner, eye care chairman for the Cuyahoga Falls Lions Club, wants desperately to find the lad or lass who lost a pair of eyeglasses.
Skinner, who collects old glasses for worldwide distribution on behalf of the Greater Akron Lions Eye care Program (G.A.L.E.P.), recently came across a pair of children's glasses with this note attached to them, ''found at Hopewell Kitchen.''
''We pick up 200-400 pairs of eyeglasses, sunglasses, loose lenses and hearing aids every month,'' Skinner said.
The used eyeglasses are sent to optometry schools in the state to be reconditioned for Third World countries. ''It's my understanding that used prescription eyeglasses cannot be distributed in the U.S.''
GALEP funds eye exams and new eyeglasses for persons in need in this country. Please contact your local Lions Club (listed in the phone book) or call Akron City Hospital Ophthalmology Center at 330-375-4831 for adults or Akron Children's Hospital at 330-374-5666 for children under 14.
If you're the parent of the child who lost glasses at Hopewell Kitchen, please call Skinner at 330-929-3329.
Hats off to the Greater Akron Lions Club for its investment in improving eyesight worldwide.
Address for Holcomb
For those wishing to write to Akron's Andy Holcomb, who survived a horrible industrial accident three years ago despite having lost half his body, please send prayers and cards to:
Andy Holcomb, P.O. Box 6209, Akron, OH 44312.
Ison at Akron General
Also, keep those encouragement cards coming to Roschelle Ison, — a patient in Select Specialty Hospital at Akron General Medical Center, 400 Wabash Ave., Akron, OH 44307, who is scheduled this week for a major surgery to reconnect her intestines and close the large hole in her stomach.
Roschelle, who has spent the last 14 months at Barberton Citizens Hospital, undergoing nine surgeries for Crohn's disease, was recently transferred to Select.
Humanitarian award
Tracy L. Carter and Anthony Gorant will be honored at 5 p.m. Sunday at
Arlington Church of God, 539 S. Arlington St., Akron, with the 13th annual Charles Salem Humanitarian Award.
The recipients represent the spirit of Akron's Charles ''Charlie'' Salem, who died in 1990. His contributions were endless: an educator and administrator at the University of Akron; a musician, composer and advocate for social justice.
Carter is director of government relations for the Summa Foundation and Gorant is senior vice president for community affairs at Akron General Medical Center. Both are actively involved in the community as volunteers.
''My motto has always been that giving back is better than sitting back,'' Gorant often says.
''I cannot imagine my life without community service work. It has been tremendously enriching for me.''
Community service also is second nature for Carter. ''I have always believed service should be a part of our lives and am especially honored to be receiving this with Mr. Gorant, whose service work is practically legendary,'' Carter added.
French Market
Save the dates. The much anticipated ''French Market'' — in its 31st year and sponsored by WITAN (Women in Touch with Akron's Needs) — is slated for Friday and Saturday, Feb. 22-23, at Todaro's, 1820 Akron-Peninsula Road, Akron.
The French Market is a juried arts and crafts show spotlighting the talents of more than 45 artisans from Pennsylvania and surrounding states. Proceeds go to WITAN's lengthy list of community projects.
The market will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Admission is $5 at the door.
Lunch is available and there will be raffle prizes galore.
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.
Major bouquets to Lucas Rife — a freshman at North Canton's Hoover High School — for his huge ''giving back'' efforts on behalf of cancer research, especially as it relates to Akron Children's Hospital.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
