AMERICUS, GA -
Relay for Life is an annual fundraiser that supports cancer research and honors cancer victims and survivors.
Organizations find creative ways to raise money for the cause. To honor survivors like Deatrice Harris.
At the age of 22, most women are worried about starting their lives. But for her, what she discovered when she was 22 almost ended her life.
"I had Stage 3 breast cancer of the right breast," she said.
What followed was a series of painful treatments.
"(I) start doing chemo, radiation and had some transplants."
But after it was all done, she was in remission and has joined some elite company - she's a survivor.
"I've been a breast cancer survivor for 15 years," she said.
Now she's co-captain of the Phoebe Sumter Relay for Life Team. Krista Barfield is the captain and she says that it's not just a one day commitment. They're raising money all year long.
"Bake sales, and we sell baskets and all kinds of fund raisers within the hospital," she said.
Today, they continued another creative - and delicious - way to support the cause. Selling food.
Barfield said, "we start all year long with our Schwan's truck."
The Schwan's truck made a stop in front of the hospital on Thursday, selling everything from frozen pizzas, to chicken tenders to ice cream.
And the best part? Leslie Sumner of Schwan's Frozen Foods tells us what it is: "a portion of their purchase goes back to the hospital."
While it may seem unusual to sell frozen food to raise money for cancer research, for Schwan's using these trucks as tools to raise money for charity is nothing new.
Sumner said, "Schwan's is very consumer and community oriented. And anything that we can do to give back to the community is very important to us."
With Schwan's help, Phoebe Sumter is hoping to beat last year's total of $16,000. The goal is to help fund research into finding a cure for cancer, so that more people can leave it behind, as Deatrice has done.
If you want to buy from the Schwan's truck at Phoebe Sumter, it will be back the first Thursday of March and April.
The Relay for Life in Sumter County is on April 27th at the Americus Sumter High School football stadium.
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The Schwan's catalogue. Hospital employees had a chance to order from the catalogue Thursday with some of the sales going to Relay For Life.
A Phoebe Sumter employee walks away with a bag of food at the fundraiser.
Deatrice Harris walks into Phoebe Sumter Hospital in Americus. Harris was diagnosed with breast cancer at 22.
Two of the many items on offer from the Schwan's truck.
This sign beckons visitors and employees to take advantage of the Schwan's truck.
