Cancer Challenge returns this week

The 24th annual Cancer Challenge is coming to Bella Vista this week, featuring golf, tennis and skeet-shooting tournaments.

The event is Thursday through Saturday.

Erin Rongers, executive director of the Cancer Challenge, said that the money raised by the organization benefits cancer and awareness programs in Northwest Arkansas.

“Our goal is to raise over $800,000 for cancer programs and awareness in Northwest Arkansas,” she said. “All of the funding we raise stays local.”

The programs this benefits, she said, include education and prevention programs, as well as treatment, awareness and survivorship programs.

These programs can provide services to help with smoking cessation, cancer screening, clinics, financial assistance, transportation, translation, lodging and general wellness.

The event, is getting bigger each year and owes its success in part to corporate sponsors, but also to the roughly 250 people who volunteer each year — some who have even volunteered every year since the Cancer Challenge’s inception more than two decades ago.

It’s not too late, she said, for additional volunteers to sign up for the event.

The event has three staff members. The work to build this single event is year-long. But the end result, she said, is satisfying.

“At the end of the day when we raise this money and we’re able to contribute hundreds of

thousands of dollars every year and give back to our community, it’s worth every hour,” she said.

“You don’t want to write a huge check unless it’s going to something you believe in.” Cancer Challenge Northwest Arkansas can be reached by phone at 479273-3172. The website is www.cancerchallenge.com.