Kentucky's First Cancer Corner Opened in Whitley City Public Library

Whitley City, Kentucky, Thursday April 8, 2010 - The McCreary County Public Library is the first public library in Kentucky to host a Cancer Corner, provided by the "Hope Light Foundation", a non-profit public charity founded in 2005.  The Foundation is dedicated to communicating cancer awareness information to impact cancer prevention and increase early detection, survivorship and lives saved.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kentucky has the nation's highest all cancers death rate.

McCreary County Public Library Cancer Corner

Visitors to the Library will now have access to a large selection of cancer literature displayed on the Cancer Corner.  The Cancer Corner concept in libraries was established as a strategy of the Hope Light Foundation to provide rural residents/library visitors with all-cancers information and help in locating resources to increase cancer knowledge, help in early detection and reduce the burden of cancer.  If cancer is detected, diagnosed and treated early while in the organ of origin before it spreads to adjacent tissue, lymph nodes and other organs, there is a greater chance for survivorship and a cure.  Brochures, pamphlets and other materials used in the Cancer Corners are obtained from well-known national cancer-related organizations such as the National Cancer Institute, Susan Komen Foundation for the Cure, Lance Armstrong Foundation, National Childrens Cancer Society, CancerCare, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and many others.   

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Hope Light Foundation Receives $10,000 Donation

Carbondale, IL, 14 December, 2009 - The George A. Bates Memorial Foundation donated $10,000 to The Hope Light Foundation for use in communicating cancer awareness information and helping people fight cancer in southern Illinois.  The Bates Foundation supports nonprofit organizations in the areas of family and human services, hospitals, medical care and rehabilitation and gives primarily in Illinois and Kentucky.

Photo (L-R):  Joyce Fetro, Chair, Health Education and Recreation Department-SIUC; Rudy Bess, Founding Director–The Hope Light Foundation; Dr. Michael Murray, Trustee–George A. Bates Memorial Foundation; Marc Lodyga, Graduate Assistant-SIUC 

This year, The Hope Light Foundation used George A. Bates Memorial Foundation funding to support the following projects in southern Illinois:

• Funded a Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (SIUC) Graduate Assistant position to research and analyze community health related behaviors and cancer death and new case rates to determine and implement cancer intervention programs.  The Graduate Assistant position resides in SIUC’s Health Education and Recreation Department.  The Graduate Assistant activities are focused on helping reduce the burden of cancer in southern Illinois communities with high and rising cancer death rates.        

• Established three Hope Light Cancer Corners with all-cancers awareness and resource information in Cairo, Metropolis and Mounds, Illinois public libraries.

• Supported fundraising activities for building a Hope Light on the Ohio River in Metropolis, Illinois for use in communicating cancer awareness and as a national symbol of hope for cancer patients, cancer survivors and their family and friends. 

Recent data released by the National Cancer Institute and the Center for Disease Control shows that 60% of the Top 20 counties in Illinois with the highest all-cancers death rates are in southern Illinois.  The data shows that lung and bronchus cancer is Illinois most deadliest cancer with 70% of the state’s Top 10 counties with the highest lung and bronchus cancer death rates are also in southern Illinois.  These are alarming facts and are The Hope Light Foundations’ major reasons for taking the fight against cancer to Illinois’s southern 34 counties.

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Hope Light 'Cancer Corner' Open in Cairo  

Cairo, IL, Thursday June 18, 2009 - Residents of Alexander and surrounding counties in Illinois, Missouri and Kentucky can now go to The Hope Light Foundations ‘Cancer Corner’ in the historic Cairo, Illinois Public Library to obtain all-cancers information.  All Cancer Corner materials and services are free to visitors.  The library is located at 1609 Washington Ave and can be reached at (618) 734-1840 for more information.  Library hours are 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday.  

The Cairo 'Cancer Corner' is conveniently accessible to the general public during normal library hours.  The Cairo Cancer Corner is the third of several planned for locating in southern Illinois public libraries with previous ones opened in Metropolis and Mounds, Illinois. 

The Cancer Corner contains cancer related brochures, booklets, DVDs/CDs on all-cancers topics to include; prevention, signs and symptoms, healthy eating, screening tests, self-exams, clinical trials, treatments and coping with cancer.  Nutrition information is provided by the University of Illinois Extension.  

Cancer Corner materials are published by well-known and respected national cancer related organizations to include; National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Gynecologic Cancer Foundation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Prostate Cancer Foundation, National Children’s Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Lance Armstrong Foundation.  

Visitors have the opportunity to review cancer related material in a quiet and comfortable library setting and selecting publications that provide the best information on topics of personal interest.  Additionally, personal computers are located adjacent to the Cancer Corner that can be used to access cancer information web sites and for on-line chats with National Cancer Institute Cancer Information Specialists Monday thru Friday.    

The Foundation's strategy is to bring cancer awareness information closer to rural community residents by locating it in public libraries that are well known and respected and provide a conveniently accessible, safe and comfortable environment for learning.  With this approach, residents will have an opportunity to become knowledgeable of life-saving cancer awareness information that could lead to early detection of this deadly disease.  If detected early while cancer is in the organ of origin, before it spreads to lymph nodes and other organs, there is a greater chance for survivorship and a cure.   

The Hope Light Foundation works in partnership with the Southern Illinois Cancer Partnership (SICP) consisting of; University of Illinois Extension, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Southern Seven Health Department, National Cancer Institute Cancer Information Service, Shawnee Library System, Shawnee Community College, Susan G. Komen for the Cure-Evansville and SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute at Southern Illinois University.

The Hope Light Foundation believes that “fight against cancer begins with knowledge” and knowledge is the power that can result in early cancer detection and save lives. 

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First Hope Light 'Cancer Information Corner' is Open for Visitors in Metropolis, IL

Metropolis, IL, Friday, March 28, 2009 - People wanting information on cancer can now go to the Metropolis Public Library in Metropolis, Illinois.  The Hope Light Cancer Information Corner is located in the library's lower level and is open to the public seven days a week during normal library hours.  All materials in the 'Cancer Corner are free to the general public. The library is located at 317 Metropolis Street and can be reached at 618-524-4312 for more information.

The Cancer Corner contains cancer related brochures, booklets, DVDs/CDs on all-cancers topics.  The material is published by well-known and respected national cancer related organizations to include; National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Gynecologic Cancer Foundation, Prostate Cancer Foundation and Lance Armstrong Foundation.  

Metropolis Public Library Cancer Corner

L-R: Karen Laird, Metropolis Public Library; Deena Harris, Metropolis Hope Light Committee-CIEC Co-Chair; Sally West, Metropolis Hope Light Committee-CIEC Co-Chair (Hope Light Foundation Photo)

The Cancer Corner will be expanded in the future to become a part of a Hope Light Cancer Information and Education Center (CIEC).  Both the Cancer Corner and the CIEC are sponsored by The Hope Light Foundation working in partnership with southern Illinois libraries and local health departments.  The Foundation's strategy is to bring cancer awareness information closer to the public in a well known place in rural areas with convenient access, such as, public libraries.

The CIEC will be staffed by trained Cancer Resource Navigator volunteers to provide a wide range of cancer information and education services for the public to include:

• Audio and videotapes/DVDs

• Brochures, pamphlets and books

• Cancer education programs

• Cancer information workshops and guest speaker events

• Cancer screening events

• Healthy lifestyle events

• Nutrition events

• Internet searches

• One-on-one support

• Local resource information: support groups and healthcare, financial and transportation services

All CIEC services will be provided to the public at no cost.  The Hope Light Foundation believes that "the fight against cancer begins with knowledge" and with this knowledge, we can reduce the burden of cancer and save lives.

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Hope Light Foundation Receives $10,000 Donation

St. Louis, MO, Sunday, December 7, 2008 - The George A. Bates Memorial Foundation donated $10,000 to The Hope Light Foundation for use in communicating cancer awareness information and helping people in Illinois fight cancer.  The Bates Foundation supports nonprofit organizations in the areas of family and human services, hospitals, medical care and rehabilitation and gives primarily in Illinois and Kentucky.

L-R:  Dr. Michael Murray, Trustee–Bates Memorial Foundation; Rudy Bess, Founding Director–The Hope Light Foundation; Bill Carrell, Chairman–Metropolis Hope Light Project Committee (Photo by Robert Midnight) 

The Hope Light Foundation was founded by Rudy and Beverly Bess of Hazelwood, Missouri for the purpose of communicating cancer awareness information to increase survivorship, reduce the burden of cancer and save lives.  The Foundation is dedicated to promoting early awareness of cancer signs and symptoms and communicating the importance of cancer screening tests, self-exams and prevention programs with a focus on residents in Southern Illinois. 

Recent data released by the National Cancer Institute and the Center for Disease Control shows that 50% of the Top 20 counties in Illinois with the highest all-cancers death rates are in the Southern Region and that lung and bronchus cancer is Illinois most deadliest cancer.  This alarming fact is The Hope Light Foundations’ major reason for taking the fight against cancer to Illinois’s southern 34 counties.  

Earlier this year, the first Hope Light Project was successfully launched in Metropolis, Illinois.  The Project consists of designing, constructing and sustaining a Hope Light consisting of a 35' tall operating lighthouse with an attached Cancer Information Center (CIC) at the entrance to the beautiful and peaceful Dorothy Miller Park in Metropolis on the bank of the Ohio River.  Design of the Hope Light is being accomplished by Eggemeyer Associates Architects of Carbondale, Illinois at no cost to the Project.  Construction of the facility is planned to begin in 2009.  This will be the first operational lighthouse on the Ohio River requiring approval by the U.S. Coast Guard.   

The Project is establishing an Interim CIC in the Metropolis Public Library for use until the Hope Light CIC can be completed. The Interim CIC will include a display of NCI publications and will have trained volunteers to help individuals access on-line resources and provide one-on-one support.  All services will be provided at no cost.  

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The Hope Light Project Visits Metropolis

Friday, January 27, 2006

The Hope Light Project Founder, Rudy Bess, and Co-Founder, Beverly Bess, visited Metropolis, Illinois today to discuss design and construction of the Hope Light Cancer Information Center. The group met with Mayor, Billy McDaniels, Director of Parks and Recreation, Bill Carrell, and Hope Light architect, Andrew Eggemeyer of Eggemeyer Associates Architects, Inc.  Following the meeting, they visited the construction site of the Hope Light which is located at the west entrance to Dorothy Miller Park overlooking the Ohio River.  Project design is currently underway with construction scheduled for later this year.

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L-R: Andrew Eggemeyer, Bill Carrell, Beverly Bess, Rudy Bess

Project Team on the future site of the Hope Light Cancer Information Center in Metropolis

Hope Light Cancer Information Center Architect Selected

Wednesday, December 14, 2005 

Eggemeyer Associates Architects, Inc. of Carbondale, Illinois has been selected to design the Hope Light Cancer Information Center.  The firm has been responsible for the design of building projects in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri and Florida during its more than forty-year existence. Projects, encompassing both new construction and renovation/restoration work, including schools, libraries, correctional facilities, residences, nursing homes, hospitals, office buildings, laboratories, dormitories, supermarkets, stores, shopping centers, churches, jails, courthouses, multi-family Housing units, financial institutions, fire and police stations, industrial plants and warehouses, restaurants and college and university buildings. Clients have included individuals, local, state and federal governmental agencies and institutions as well as private industrial and commercial interests.    

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First Hope Light Cancer Information Center Site Selected

Tuesday, October 11, 2005 

The Metropolis, Illinois City Council unanimously passed a resolution on 10 October 2005 that paved the way for construction of the first Hope Light Cancer Information Center on city property overlooking the Ohio River.  Thanks to the City, the site selected for the Cancer Information Center is at the entrance to the beautiful and peaceful Dorothy Miller Park. 

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Site of the first Hope Light Cancer Information Center in Metropolis, Illinois