THREE CANCER SURVIVORS AND ACTIVITISTS HONORED BY AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY

INLAND EMPIRE—Nancy Varner, Annie Sellas, and Cathy Stockton, all cancer survivors from the Inland Empire, will receive the “Celebration of Life” award from the American Cancer Society’s Inland Empire Area Office. The presentation will take place on Saturday, August 20th at the annual summer gala, themed Imagine More Birthdays, at the Riverside Convention Center.
“I am deeply honored to receive the 2011 Celebration of Life Award,” said Nancy Varner. “The American Cancer Society is an outstanding organization that touches so many people’s lives through research, education, and support services. Annie, Cathy and I all had our lives changed because of this disease. But together we can make a difference!”
Varner, Sellas, and Stockton were united by their cancer journeys. “We were thankful for the love and support from friends, family and community during our treatment, and were compelled to find a way to give that message of hope and caring to others,” said Sellas. After many meetings, they stepped out to launch a walk in the Inland Empire to benefit cancer patients and their families.
With the support of Jack H. Brown, Chairman and CEO of Stater Bros. Markets, the “Inland Women Fighting Cancer” organization was housed under the Stater Bros. Charities, and the Believe Walk was born.
“The American Cancer Society has been working to eliminate cancer as a major health problem for nearly 100 years,” said Cathy Stockton. More than 13,000 people in the Inland Empire will hear the words, “You have cancer,” in 2011. But there is help thanks to the free patient services programs of the American Cancer Society.
The Society’s gala event is chaired this year by Dolores Green, Executive Director of Riverside County Medical Association.
Funds raised during the gala support the American Cancer Society’s many programs which help cancer patients and their families with information and services that provide day-to-day help and emotional support.
Platinum Sponsor for the event is Stater Bros. Charities, and the Silver Sponsors for the event are Loma Linda University Cancer Center and Kaiser Permanente Riverside. Bronze Sponsors include Riverside Medical Clinic; Riverside County Medical Association; Chicago Title; Kindred Hospital Riverside; Stronghold Engineering, Inc.; Union Bank; Varner and Brandt LLP; and Riverside County Supervisor John Tavaglione. Table Hosts for the evening are Inter Valley Health Plan; Riverside Community Hospital; San Antonio Community Hospital; The Stockton Family; Soboba Casino; The Sellas Family; and Wall’s Hauling Service. Patron Sponsors are WellDyneRx; Top Priority Couriers, Inc.; Riverside Radiology Medical Group.
Table sponsorships begin at $1,500 for tables of eight, with a variety of other sponsorships available; and individual tickets for the event are $100 each. For more information or to make a donation, call Leslie Roman, Director, Community Services, at the American Cancer Society at (951) 300-1216, or by email at Leslie.Roman@cancer.org. Visit the event website at gala.acsevents.org/morebirthdays. For cancer information anytime, call the American Cancer Society at (800) 227-2345, or visit cancer.org.