Pauline J. Kelzer, DrPH, Department of Nursing and Health Sciences, California State University Hayward, P. O. Box 1006, Alamo, CA 94507, 925-935-3753, pkelzer@csuhayward.edu

Disabilities resulting from cancer have been documented and include the spectrum of mental and physical impairment. Resources to support patients and families with cancer-related disabilities have been a challenge to the non-profit and government sectors. Meeting the demand for primary prevention and health promotion also requires steady infusion of resources.

Since 1985 the American Cancer Society’s annual fundraising event, the Relay for Life, has demonstrated that significant new resources can be generated annually for local services. The Relays are now held in 3,700 local communities in the U.S.A. and in 9 foreign countries. In the U.S.A. the Relay for Life events have raised over $1 billion. However, the ability to produce a community Relay depends upon the local community’s ability to form a volunteer organization. The dilemma of very low income communities with disproportionately high rates of cancer and cancer-related disabilities is often that of having no community volunteer organization to produce the Relay. To break through this dilemma, an innovative approach to community development is needed.

This study examines the innovative approach tried in one low-income California community. Using a strategic partnership and the university service-learning model to assetize the community, a Relay for Life event was produced. Data and results are presented from the pilot year (2003) and the first operating year (2004). Conclusions are drawn about the usefulness of this model for other low-income communities to generate new funds annually for persons with cancer-related disabilities.

Learning Objectives:

• To explore methods of generating resources annually for patients with cancer-related disabilities.
• To examine a strategic partnership in service-learning for its success in creating the infrastructure to generate new resources annually.
• To analyze results of assetizing a community with few resources.

Keywords: Cancer, Disability

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.