Adecade of helping Ellsworth County cancer patients was celebrated Friday as survivors, team members and the public gathered at Ellsworth Junior-Senior High School’s Shanelec football field for the Ellsworth County Cancer Fund’s 10th annual Triathlon.

Guest speaker Glen Reed of Holyrood said the assistance he received from the ECCF during his treatment in Salina was invaluable.

“That’s what you do,” he told the crowd.“I didn’t need that. I could have got into my savings, but I don’t work anymore and Social Security isn’t going to repay that savings. And the churches and foundations and tithing that I do would suffer. Not because I gave a bunch, that’s not true, but it’s what I do. And no one is going to bother that. What she (Deb Mog, chairman of the Ellsworth County Cancer Fund) provided me with permitted me to continue that kind of stuff.”

Reed, whose skin cancer is now in remission, praised those who donate to the Ellsworth County Cancer Fund.

“It’s not easy to give extra,” he said. “The industries in this community, the individuals — she (Mog) controls it, but you provide it. I thank you for that.”

Reed said there are many cancer patients in the community who had to sacrifice more than he did in order to get treatment for their disease.

“I didn’t have to sacrifice nothing,” he said.“They might have to sacrifice milk money, medication money. I know one man who had a kidney problem because of cancer. He had to go all the way to Houston. Hotels, gas expense, helping with the medical expense. It’s costly. Not only for what it does to the family itself. What you do is America. That tithing business is for the widow and the orphan and the needy and hungry and the sick. Thanks.”

Reed said America needs more people who will “pitch in” to help those in need.

“We’re getting pretty lax,” he said. “We’re going to have a lot of needs ahead of us.”

“It just totally blows my mind that we have grown as big as we have grown in the 10 years that we have done this,” Mog said.“The support of the community and the county just blows my mind to see how much money we’ve raised. It just amazes me.”

Mog said 90 cancer survivors were fed a donated prime rib meal before the Triathlon started. Several other meals were delivered to those survivors at home.

“I remember when we barely got 30 survivors out here,” she said. “This is absolutely awesome.”

At the beginning of the Triathlon, Mog said $38,132. 04 had been raised during the event so far, with a total of $43,365.04 for the year. By the end of the evening, a total of $53,306.40 had been raised for the year.

The annual Triathlon isn’t just about fundraising — it’s about remembering those who battled cancer and survived as well as those who fought and didn’t survive.

“It’s just amazing all the people we’ve helped and all the money that has been raised in the last 10 years,” said Season (Mog) Wacker, Deb Mog’s daughter. “It’s just phenomenal.”

Both Wacker and Mog hope the work of the Ellsworth County Cancer Fund will go on forever.

“If we weren’t here, it would be tough for Ellsworth County cancer survivors to get help,” Wacker said.

During the opening ceremony of the Triathlon, Mog thanked both Kenny Castor, who has served as master of ceremonies for the Triathlon during the last 10 years, and Vicki Wacker for her 10 years of volunteer service to the Triathlon.

“I know 100 percent of the money is going to stay right here and help our own people, and so I think this is a wonderful thing for the town to do and show up and participate in,” said cancer survivor Leslie Brooks.

“It’s fun to see all the people out that are helping,” added Leslie’s husband, Mike, also a cancer survivor.“The meal was great.”

“I think we continue to do amazing work for a horrible disease that a lot of people in our county seem to get,” said Triathlon committee member Kathy Carreon.

Because cancer had an effect upon her family, Carreon said she became involved with ECCF and the Triathlon.

“Unfortunately, it’s something that’s dear to my heart,” she said.