Local daffodil effort raises over $6,000

RUMFORD -- A celebration tea was held recently at Rumford Hospital for the volunteers of the Northern Oxford Daffodil Committee, who raised more than $6,000 during the annual American Cancer Society's Daffodil Days.

Evelyn Bodemer, who has chaired the local effort for the past 10 years, thanked the 30 volunteers who participated this year, including co-chairs Judy Broomhall of Mexico and Lorraine Nadeau of Rumford, Bethel organizer Caroline Gould and Andover organizer Ruby Kulpa.

Also in attendance was Crystal Derocher, the Daffodil representative for Maine. She noted that Daffodil Days brought in $140,000 statewide. That included more than 93,000 daffodils, over 800 collectible bears, 1,900 potted plants, over 600 gifts of hope (donated to cancer patients throughout the state) and 250 bear hugs (to children with cancer).

Daffodil Days contributions provide the American Cancer Society with much needed dollars to fund groundbreaking cancer research to educate people about the importance of cancer prevention and early detection, and to advocate for meaningful public health policies that benefit everyone.

Photo:

Some of the 30 volunteers of the Northern Oxford Daffodil Committee attended the celebration tea held last Wednesday in the Rumford Hospital cafeteria. The ladies raised more than $6,000 for the American Cancer Society. (Times photo by Bruce Farrin)