Great Falls Optimist Club

Childhood Cancer Campaign

The Great Falls Optimist Club has raised money for a national Childhood Cancer Campaign organized by Optimist International that is:

            - providing support to children with cancer,

            - providing support to cancer patients’ families and care partners,

            - providing support for childhood cancer research

 According to Optimist International, cancer is the number one disease killing children today; killing more children than asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and AIDS combined.  Each year about 10,000 children in the United States are diagnosed with cancer and over 3,000 will die from it annually.

             The Great Falls Optimist Club placed donation boxes at ten area  locations for three years: Romantica Deli, Mediterranean Café, Great Falls Cleaners, Royal Cleaners, Deli Italiano, The Old Brogue, Adeler’s Jewelers, the Serbian Crown Restaurant, Gilette’s, and Hills Signature Photography.

             “So, if you saw these collection boxes in local businesses, you know what they’re all about,” said George Hersey, who organized the fundraising program for the us.  “We believe this is an important project to support, and invited the people of our community to do what they could to support our effort. Funds raised in Great Falls were sent to Optimist International, which is coordinating the nationwide programs and support activities for children with cancer and for childhood cancer research.”