Fifth 'Granny Ride' scheduled for Aug. 26

The Granny Ride brings a chance for many to help the fight against cancer this August.

The Granny Ride is an ongoing memory and tribute of the passionate love Judy "Granny" Rubeck had for any person whose life she may have touched before her untimely death.

This year's Granny Ride will start at 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 26 from the pub in Cunot.

The day will include many activities: dinner, an auction, Locks of Love and a candle light tribute. Granny Ride promoters are asking the community to step forward and participate in a cause that could affect lives across the country. Every effort helps in the war against cancer. Any donation in any amount, or tangible items to auction, is greatly appreciated. As in preceding years 100 percent of all donations go to the American Cancer Society for Cancer Research.

Granny was born in 1944, and raised in Confluence, Pa. She moved to Indiana in 1967, where she raised her four children and married Jerry Rubeck, Poland. In 2001, Granny lost her life to lung cancer.

Granny was an active member of her community. She was a Poland volunteer firefighter for approximately 15 years. She was involved with the Wayne Township Fire Department as well. In the spring of 1989, she became an EMT and worked at Operation Life until medical complications restricted her to an office job. This minor setback did not hold her back, as she was was the one who designed the first computer billing system for OL that remained in use until October 2002.

The purpose of the Granny Ride is to raise money for cancer research so that someday the cure will bring an end to the pain and suffering of all cancer patients. This is the fifth year for promoting cancer awareness and with each passing year the Granny Ride has expanded its horizons to reach more people and raise more money.

Cancer is now the second most common cause of death. It is only preceeded by heart disease. One of every four deaths is cancer related. There are more than 10 million people who have had cancer, some are cured, but most are not.

This year alone 1,399,790 new cases will be diagnosed as cancer according to the American Cancer Society.

The ACS expects 5,640,830 people in United States to die of cancer this year alone. That breaks down to 15,000 deaths per day.

In Indiana, the ACS has estimated 32,710 people will be diagnosed with cancer.

The society expects 13,200 people to die of cancer this year in our state.

The demand is high and the response is urgent. With facts like these, help is needed.

To preregister, send your name, address and phone number with $10 per person or $15 per couple to 846 E. Washington St., Greencastle, IN 46135, ATTN: Frances Cancilla. 100 percent of all proceeds go to cancer research. Please make checks payable to American Cancer Society. There will be no refunds.

For more information on the Aug. 26 Granny Ride, call Frances Cancilla at 720-0668 or Paula Tyler at 721-1104.