This year, more than 1.4 million Americans will hear the words "You have cancer."
Colleen Hughes, a 2010 graduate of Glenelg High School, and currently a sophomore at St. Mary's College, knows too many people who are touched by cancer, and that is why she joined the American Cancer Society on a mission to save lives and create a world with more birthdays by participating in the Relay for Life in her community.
Colleen participated in the St. Mary's College Relay for Life Feb. 11 and 12, celebrating loved ones who have won their battle against cancer, as well as remembering those who are no longer with us, while fighting back against this disease that touches so many.
Colleen's mother passed away from cancer, her aunt has battled breast cancer and she has many friends who have also been affected by cancer, however each person she has met through Relay for Life has a story of hope, courage, grief, and challenge. At last year's Relay at St. Mary's College, Colleen spoke at the luminaria ceremony about her experience as a caregiver for her mother.
This year, she organized the entire luminaria ceremony, as well as participating as a team captain to honor her, her family, and friends, all who have touched and supported her throughout the last couple of years. So far, Colleen has raised close to $1,000 for this year's Relay for Life.
If you would like to make a donation to her cause, you can donate online at main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY12SA?px=23313994&pg=personal&fr_id=41430.
Colleen thanks the community in advance for their support. Together, you are helping to save lives and create a world with more birthdays.
If you would like to get involved for Relay for Life locally, the annual Western Howard County Relay for Life will take place June 8-9 at Western Regional Park. There are currently 85 participants registered for this year's event. Your help is needed to make this a successful event.
If you would like to volunteer to help, the next organizational meeting will be March 13 at 7 p.m. at the Glenwood Community Center. For more information, call 410-781-4316.
Don't forget about the Folly Quarter Middle School annual Book Drive. The school's Community Outreach Committee and Leo Club will be collecting gently used books through Wednesday, Feb. 29. These books will be donated to various schools and centers in Howard County. If you have books to donate, look for the donation box in the school's front lobby.
Many of the collected books will be delivered by Tessa Loazer to Sarah's House in Fort Meade. Tessa is working on earning her Girl Scout Gold Star Award, and has decided to stock a library at Sarah's House, a housing program for nearly 60 homeless families.
To help meet her library goal, Tessa has been collecting books at Glenwood Middle School, Dayton Oaks Elementary School and Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School, in addition to the book drive at Folly Quarter Middle. Please stop by one of these schools to drop off your gently used books.
Students at Glenwood Middle School have been busy this winter, preparing for the Drama Club's production of "Mirror Image." Fantasy comes face to face with the reality of high school in this pop musical adventure where the best and worst of both world's meet.
This whimsical story shows what happens when reality seeps into make believe. Families are invited to come enjoy the show March 2 at 6 p.m. or March 3 at noon. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door. Students may purchase tickets in advance during lunch hours in the school cafeteria.
Kindergarten registration, for the 2012- 2013 school year, will be held Feb. 27-March 2 To register for kindergarten, children must be five years old by September 1, 2012. Some rare exceptions for early admittance to school may be made.
Contact your local elementary school office for more information or visit http://www.hcpss.org/schools/kindergarten.shtml to become aware of the timeline involved with the process. Parents requesting a one-year waiver to defer entry to kindergarten may obtain a form from the HCPSS website listed above.
A parent must bring the following items at the time of registration: child's birth certificate, social security card or number, immunization records to date, the parent/guardian's photo ID, and the original recorded deed, lease and/or settlement papers along with a current utility bill to prove residency. Copies will be made of these documents and originals will be returned. It may seem early to register for Kindergarten, but it helps the local schools to get an accurate count of incoming kindergarten students.
There will be a countywide Military Information Night March 7 at 7 p.m. at River Hill High School. Students of all ages and their parents are invited to an information session featuring representatives from the five military academies, college ROTC programs, the JROTC programs at Atholton, Howard and Oakland Mills high schools, and military enlistment recruiters. Representatives from local congressional offices and theU.S. military academies will provide information about academy nomination and application processes.