Cancer survivor to speak at Common Read event

HANCEVILLE, Ala. — Wallace State Community College’s Common Read committee will join forces with the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Cullman County when they hold a March 25 event at the Hanceville campus.
“The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green is the book used for the 2014-2015 Common Read program at Wallace State. Instructors across campus use the book in their classes as a way to engage students and encourage reading.
Because cancer is a major part of the plot line for the book, the committee asked the WSCC Relay For Life team and Relay For Life of Cullman County to participate in the event. On March 25, students enrolled in the college’s Learning Communities classes will join in the morning’s activities, starting at 9:30 a.m.
The students will hear from UAH freshman and cancer survivor Lindsey Jones. Jones, of Gurley, was almost 4 years old when she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, which caused blindness, similar to a character in “The Fault in Our Stars.” Now a cancer survivor of almost 15 years, Jones shares her story with others as a Hero of Hope for the American Cancer Society.
The students will also view a skit performed by the Nursing Department’s Kids on the Block puppetry program.
Students, faculty, staff and visitors will get to visit booths set up by the ACS and Wallace State programs, take part in games and activities, and have a chance to support the WSCC Relay For Life team’s fundraising efforts.
Fundraising efforts that day will include meals from Dewey’s Cajun Shack food truck, which will donate a portion of their proceeds that day to the Wallace State Relay team. A cupcake bar will be offered by the WSCC Relay For Life team, with participants choosing the flavor of cupcake, icing and toppings to go on their treat. Anyone wishing to purchase a luminary in honor or in memory of a loved one can do so at the event. A quilt made from team t-shirts from the 2014 event will be on display. There will be opportunities to win that and a prize package for Dollywood, which will both be given away at the May 1 Relay For Life of Cullman County event at the Cullman County Fairgrounds.
Anyone interested in doing so can also sign up to participate in Relay For Life of Cullman County at the Common Read event. For more information about Relay For Life of Cullman County, visit www.relayforlife.org/cullmanal or call Helen Allen at 256.709.4019.