Book Lovers Club plans annual cancer fundraiser events
CONTRIBUTED - From left: Sheila Upchurch, Gayle McAlister, Heath Daily, Patricia Cox and Julie McKinney. Members of the planning committee meet about this year’s Walk to Wellness event.
CONTRIBUTED - From left: Gayle McAlister, Julie McKinney, Michelle Sibley, Heath Daily and Patricia Cox.
FILE PHOTO - Maudie Bedford and Roger Bedford.
Planning committee chairman Patricia Cox said while the event has been held at the Russellville High School stadium in past years, they opted to move it downtown for a change of scenery. “We think it’ll be a beautiful setting downtown, and the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Pumpkin Palooza will also be downtown this year, and it opens at 10 a.m. that day. It’ll be a fun morning for everybody.”
Cox said the funds from the event will go to people in Russellville and elsewhere in Franklin County.
“With the money that’s raised, we help people who are battling cancer by assisting with incidental expenses,” Cox explained, “things like a travel expense or an insurance co-payment. It’s small donations, but our goal is to be able to ease some of the burden they face while they’re going through these treatments.”
Register for the Maudie and Roger Bedford 5K Race and one mile Walk to Wellness at runsignup.com or on the day of the event, beginning at 7 a.m., at Farmhouse Table and Café, located at 116 North Jackson Ave., where Book Lovers members will coordinate the registration as well as hand out T-shirts to the first 100 to register. Walk participation is $25 and 5K participation is $30.
The other committee members include Michelle Sibley, Sheila Upchurch and Julie McKinney. The committee met recently to discuss the details with Russellville Hospital’s marketing coordinator, Heath Daily. The hospital is a co-sponsor this year. Daily will coordinate the run, and hospital volunteers will distribute water and bananas to the participants. The Book Lovers club will coordinate the Walk to Wellness.
The event is also a time to remember friends who fought cancer.
“We look forward to continued growth and support of the event,” Cox added. “It enables us to help people in Franklin County, and we remember Maudie and Roger Bedford, who both battled cancer themselves and were also so supportive to others fighting that battle, by helping people through finding lodging, getting them in to see a doctor and other ways. Maudie helped so many women going through breast cancer treatments. We felt this was a good way to honor them.”
Cox said the group decided to add a 5K as part of this year’s events, in addition to their usual walk, a move she said they hope will increase participation.
Each participant must turn in signed release and waiver forms in order to participate in the events. Those paying by check should make it out to Book Lovers Study Club and mail to Walk to Wellness, 2006 Wilson Blvd, Russellville, AL 35653.
