Sharing daffodils can fight cancer

Wabash Valley residents can fight back against cancer and share hope for those facing the disease by supporting the American Cancer Society Daffodil DaysŪ.

This longstanding program, which involves offering daffodils to donors every spring in appreciation for their contributions, is about more than just giving beautiful flowers; it is an opportunity to share hope for a world with less cancer and more birthdays, where cancer never steals another year from anyone's life. For a donation of $10, everyone from school children to corporate CEOs can send a bouquet of fresh-cut daffodils to someone special to support the fight against cancer.

An important part of Daffodil Days is the Gift of Hope -- a bouquet of 10 daffodil stems in a vase, delivered anonymously to cancer patients within the community.

The Gift of Hope helps brighten a patient's day and fosters a relationship, ensuring the patient's and caregiver's knowledge that the Society is helping them get well by being in their corner around the clock to guide them through every step of their cancer experience.

Multiple donation levels are offered (beginning at $25), to enable donors to support as many Gift of Hope deliveries as they choose.

"I encourage everyone to help paint our community yellow with daffodils this spring to represent our commitment to preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from the disease," said Julie Hansen, director, American Cancer Society Wabash Valley service center. "We all have the power to make a difference for those facing cancer and their families. By giving daffodils, we are actually sharing the hope of a world with less cancer and more birthdays."

As the first flower of spring, the daffodil is the American Cancer Society's symbol of hope for a world free of cancer. Volunteers in the community along with American Cancer Society staff will coordinate all activities regarding the ordering and delivery of daffodils in Wabash Valley.

Dollars raised through Daffodil Days enable the Society to offer free programs and services that save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight.

For more information about Daffodil Days, to request daffodils or to get involved with the program, contact your local American Cancer Society office or visit www.cancer.org/daffodils.