Student learns he can make a difference in fund raiser

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Three years of saving pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters amounted to a lot more than 10-year-old Chris Godwin had expected.

Godwin, a fourth-grader at Eugene Field Elementary, recently donated the entire contents of his piggy bank to the United Cancer Assistance Network (UCAN), a local foundation that provides a variety of services to cancer patients and their families.

Like many students in the Poplar Bluff area, Godwin's donation stemmed from the local schools' participation in UCAN's annual Got Change fund raiser.

"I'm happy to know that I've helped people be saved," Godwin said. "I just thought it'd be nice to donate it."

Godwin's decision to donate his savings had a profound effect on other students at Eugene Field.

"After Chris made his large contribution, a lot of our students brought in big sacks of change," said his teacher, Frankie Moe. "He's kind of the leader of the pack."

Several schools are involved in Got Change, one of two fund raisers being held to benefit UCAN in March.

UCAN, an all-volunteer organization that formed four years ago, offers area cancer patients financial support, medical equipment and a monthly support group.

"We assist cancer patients in every possible way, anything from paying rents, utilities, paying for medications," said UCAN volunteer Jodie Gooch. "We have lift chairs, wigs, and it's all given to patients free of charge. We just ask that they return them when they're done."

Like many of the other UCAN volunteers, Gooch herself is a cancer survivor and knows just how hard it can be.

"We see hundreds of patients every year from Butler County, the seven surrounding counties and Clay County, Ark.," she said.

Several area businesses have joined together to participate in Dress Down, a fund raiser that allows employees to dress casually one day each week for a fee of $2.

Got Change and Dress Down have brought in between $8,000 and $10,000 annually since UCAN began sponsoring them four years ago.

For more information on UCAN, call (573) 776-1892.