by John Dowd
With modern healthcare prolonging people’s lives so much more than ever, it almost seems impossible that there could be anything we have not found a cure for. Unfortunately, one of the most prevalent ailments of the human race remains uncured, and according to the staff at Valley Drug, in Stevensville, it has affected everyone on earth at some point in their lives.
Dina Kuhlman, the executive administrative assistant to the vice president of Valley Drug, said she has held this position for many years and for at least the last four years she has been the organizing force behind the business’s Colors of Cancer fundraising campaign. The event kicked off May 1, and for her and many other staff members at Valley Drug, fighting cancer is a personal cause.
“It hits home with me,” said Kuhlman. Kuhlman says cancer is prevalent in her family, and she has seen loved ones go through it. According to Kuhlman, cancer has directly affected many of the staff personally.
According to staff member Miranda Carder, cancer has hugely affected her life. Two years ago, her father-in-law, with whom she is very close, was diagnosed with prostate cancer. After a tough battle, he is now “100% cancer free,” according to Carder. Her passion for fighting cancer includes educating people about the types of cancer and what it means for those diagnosed. She puts great importance in both that education and listening to anyone who wants to speak about their experiences with the disease in its various forms. “Just to be there if they want to talk about it,” Carder said, can mean the world to people.
Another employee that spoke up about her experiences with cancer was Bonnie McNealy. Her husband was diagnosed with cancer, and her parents both died of cancer. She has also seen two good friends go through it as well. McNealy says, “it’s always surprising,” when someone is diagnosed.
Her husband was told he had lung cancer, but never smoked a day in his life, and a friend who has been a “health nut” was diagnosed with a cancer that generally affects those who live less healthy lives. “We don’t really know why,” McNealy said when asked about the nature of how some people get cancer and some do not. This is why she sees cancer research as so important, so the health industry can try to understand the nature of cancer to better fight it.
“It’s important to keep trying to find cures because some of the treatments are awful,” said McNealy. For McNealy, she is “proud to know that our group can support this,” and “awareness is very important.” Her feelings about the month-long fundraiser are shared by the rest of the staff at Valley Drug.
Kuhlman spoke on the Valley Drug Colors of Cancer fundraising campaign, and said, “It’s a cause I feel passionate about and I see what it does for this community and how it brings us together.” She also explained how the campaign is firmly ingrained in the Valley Drug culture, and how staff members are excited for it every year. “It’s all about community, it’s all about family, and how we can give back,” said Kuhlman. “The whole team gets involved and it’s amazing to see what the young staff get from it and what they absorb.”
Valley Drug owner, Chad Smith, spoke about the campaign. He has owned Valley Drug for eight years and said it is one of the most important fundraisers they do. For him, it is essential because of their work in health care as a pharmacy. “We work in healthcare, so we deal with cancer patients all the time and we see the struggle they go through,” said Smith. He also believes that, “as diverse as this community has become, this is still something that everybody comes out for and comes together behind,” because, “everyone has been affected by cancer.”
The fundraiser is for all types of cancer, and the funds go directly to the Bitterroot Health Foundation for cancer work. They have typically done this month-long fundraiser in October, but switched to spring because they felt there were numerous other fundraisers during that cancer awareness month, all of which are important. According to Kuhlman, they did not want to take away from any of the other similar fundraisers at that time, or even other events focusing on helping individuals in the community fighting cancer. They decided on doing it in the month of May to stay clear of all of these other events.
The Valley Drug Colors of Cancer event has been going on for years, and it seems no one involved really knows exactly when it started. It was originally focused on breast cancer awareness. However, eventually it moved to supporting the cause of fighting all types of cancer, hoping to help fund research in cures for them all. The campaign has always benefitted the Bitterroot Health Foundation.
Just as in the past, there will be a raffle with items donated by the community. According to Kuhlman, by the end of the campaign the Valley Drug building will be full of tables with raffle prizes. Chances at each raffle can be purchased for either $1 or $5. The more expensive $5 tickets are for higher priced prizes, and the $1 tickets are for the lower priced prizes. Participants can then put their tickets towards whatever prize they want to win. Prizes this year already include paintings, carved ducks, fine luggage and much more.
There will also be pink buckets placed at the Soda Fountain on a special day to raise money through staff tips. All tips will be put into the buckets, along with additional donations customers want to give.
Additionally, this year they have cowboy boots at various registers. These include both women’s and men’s boots, and is part of a staff competition, the ”guys against gals,” Kuhlman described. The boots are for any extra change customers want to leave, and the winning side that puts the most effort in and raises the most will get employee appreciation at the end of the month. Though the appreciation will be something meant for the winning team, according to Kuhlman, it “rolls over to all of them, let’s be honest!”
Another new program of the campaign will be employing the help of the new Stevensville Police Chief, John Boe. In this program, participants can “buy a warrant,” which selects someone, usually a friend or family member, as part of a prank. The selected will then be “arrested and thrown in jail,” where they will need to contact people to “bail them out.” All of it is in good fun and is meant to help raise as much as possible to donate this year.
In the past the campaign generally raised about $5,000, though Kuhlman and other staff members are striving to beat that number this year. Donations can be made in cash or check, and can be written to Valley Drug. Those donations are held separate from the organization, and the end of the campaign will be put into a fund that is donated directly to the Bitterroot Health Foundation.