Contact: Eileen Inness, dir. marketing
345-4563 or 368-5157
eileen_inness@chs.net

Press Release
For Immediate Release: Friday, July 23, 2010

(Galesburg, IL)- The Galesburg Cottage Hospital Relay for Life Team, Cottage M*A*S*H* Unit 8131, raised $15,366.79 for the annual event in honor of a fallen team member who died of cancer just last month.

According to co-team captain, Sue Bracken, R.N., surgical services, the team's effort was made possible by the generous support of Cottage employees, visitors, patients and members of the medical staff.

"From January through July, our M.A.S.H Unit 8131 was constantly at work planning and implementing bake sales, silent auctions, cookbook and t-shirt sales," said Bracken.

Fellow co-team captain, Karen Robinson, R.N., O.B., gave credit to the many volunteers who undertook the effort in the name of a co-worker and longtime Cottage nurse, Nancy Haines, who succumbed to lung cancer last month, "This effort is dedicated to Nancy who courageously fought the battle and lost. It really hits home when one of our very own team member's is tragically taken from us."

The team enlarged the 2007 M*A*S*H* Unit Relay for Life picture which included Nancy and prominently displayed it at their tent site at this year's event.

The team used camouflage netting, army cots and even reconstructed a golf cart into an army jeep replica to decorate their Cottage M*A*S*H* Unit tent.

Team member Diane Nesbitt, R.N., designed a birthday cake complete with photos of survivors to celebrate the theme of the 2010 relay, "Celebrating More Birthdays".

pictured from left to right: Sue Bracken, RN, Karen Fliss,CRNA, Laurie Landis, Karen Sornberger, RHIT, Karen Robinson, RN, Barb Parkinson, RN, Bill Larkin, RTR, Cindy Carter, RTR, Susan Klapp, Diane Nesbitt, RN, Teresa Gordon, Kelley Cruz, anes. Aide, Sandy Fleisher, RTR, DMS.