You can’t live in a wonderful town like we do without being asked to endorse causes. And two very worth causes are coming up soon that I’d like to spotlight.
The Rutherford County Drug Court is having its annual fundraiser this Saturday, Sept. 20, The Rally for Recovery Walk/Run to take place at the Pavilion at the Murfreesboro Veterans Administration hospital.
I was on the board of the Drug Court in its earlier years (it started in 2000) and have seen firsthand the wonderful service this court provides. The program helps people who are violating the law because of drug or alcohol addiction and helps them get out of the substance abuse cycle and become productive citizens. The program consists of long-term treatment, random drug screens and judicial supervision and requires great conviction and determination to complete.
Candidates are screened by judges and counselors to validate their desire to participate, and the program lasts about one year. It consists of family session meetings, self-help and support meetings three times a week, weekly journals, group therapy and appearances before judges.
A Family Treatment Court has recently been added and it tries to seek permanency by reunification or adoption for children whose parents could lose their custody.
Honorable Don Ash, who is the judge for this program, told me that 116 participants have graduated since its inception. Twenty of those participants have received their GED while in the program. The road to recovery is never easy, but the program has been very successful in our community.
Drug Court is federally funded and costs approximately $5,000 annually per participant.
Incarceration costs $30,000 annually, so in addition to saving criminals we are saving the county money.
The race has private and corporate sponsors, but it would love to have a large turnout of participants. Entry fee is $20 and awards will be given. So go take a hike for this important cause.
Also noteworthy are the Breast Cancer Awareness events coming up soon.
The Middle Tennessee Medical Center for Breast Health will open Sept. 15, and the opening party, “A Pink Ribbon Affair” will be held on Sept. 23 from 5-7 p.m.
MTMC Ambassadors have donated 100 spa robes to the center to make the mammogram experience as pleasant as possible.
Chairman Patty Marschel and her hard-working volunteers have spent countless hours organizing two fundraisers to benefit the Tennessee Breast Cancer Coalition of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The TBCC helps the less fortunate and uninsured by providing programs for breast cancer survivors. The goal of these gals is to keep the monies raised here in this community.
Imagine learning you have breast cancer; then imagine you are uninsured and have to face surgery, treatment, wigs and/or prosthesis, It is unimaginable, but realistic today.
Breast cancer, diagnosed early, is treatable, so these tenacious women want to get the word out that mammograms and self-examination can help with early detection.
Reeves-Sain Drugstore is donating their visible billboard (on the corner of Old Fort and Broad) to this cause.
Patty and pals are also hosting a wine and cheese party to be held on Monday, Sept. 29th at Susan Quesenberry’s beautiful Mirabella home. Middle Tennessee Medical Center is a sponsor of this event, and Charlie Patel of Total Beverage is donating the wine. Five local caterers will provide the food, and since we have such great caterers here, you know it will be top notch.
In addition to great food and conversation, Patty’s pals have organized a dynamite auction consisting of dinner for 10 at the Bonefish Grill, dinner for 6 couples in the President’s Suite at the Embassy Suites and electronics from Best Buys, among others.
Last year I donated sewing lessons and cooking lessons (“won” by Barb Ford and Debbie Harney, respectively) and this year I am donating lessons in phone texting, emailing, or sewing (choice to be determined by the high bidder).
On Tuesday, Oct. 1 there will be golf and tennis tournaments at Stones River
Country Club. I played in the tennis tournament in its inaugural year and cannot tell you the tears I shed when I read a sign noting donations made in my name by my tennis buddies (I am a colon cancer survivor). I still cry when I think about it.
This year’s event honoree is Ann Nora Parsons, Murfreesboro native and Lytle family descendent. Ann Nora is the mother of four children, grandmother of eight, step-grandmother of three and has six great grandchildren. There was no history of breast cancer in Ann Nora’s family and it was detected last year through a routine mammogram. She was treated by radiation and is doing very well.
So step up to the plate and attend or volunteer to help one of these causes. We’re lucky to live in a place where volunteers spend so much time making life a little better for others.
ʻTil next week. |
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