Area man named Andrus winner

It is not often that a member of AARP is greeted with a standing ovation; last Thursday night was one of those rare occasions.
When Don Chartier was making his way to the podium to give his thanks for being selected as the 2007 winner of the Andrus Award for Community Service for the Eaton Ferry Road Chapter, almost in unison the group stood up applauding.
It seemed appropriate that on the night Chartier had just completed a spaghetti dinner for one of the many fundraisers for Relay for Life, he was recognized for his volunteer work. As captain of the Relay for Life Team he led his all volunteer team to make this year’s dinner another success.
The Andrus Award is the highest award members of AARP can receive. Established in 2002 the award is named after the founder of AARP, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus. The award recognizes outstanding AARP volunteers and members who are making a powerful difference in their communities in ways that support AARP’s mission, vision and strategic direction and that inspire others to volunteer.
Chapter President Karl Groeger pointed out several of the accomplishments and achievements that Chartier completed to qualify him for the award.
“In 1998 as team captain he organized our Relay for Life-American Cancer Society Team and it has been one of the most successful community service agencies in the area.” He went on to add that, “Since the initiation of this program headed by Don, we have been able to grant to the American Cancer Society over $60,000 since its creation in 1998. In 2006 our donation was $5,700.”
“In 1993 he headed a team that initiated a Habitat for Humanity program in the Lake Gaston and surrounding area,” Groeger added. He continued, “As of 2006 this Habitat team has successfully built six houses for families in need of a home.”
It was also pointed out that during all of this Chartier over came two cancer episodes. It was not mentioned that at the last Relay for Life event he was being treated for cancer. Even with that going on he managed, with volunteer help, to lead an AARP team that was the only team to have someone on the track for the entire 24 hour period.
In an emotional acceptance for the award Chartier thanked all the volunteers who made all of this possible and he had a special thanks for his wife, Jane.
Keeping with the theme of the night Joe Coyne of the American Cancer Society complimented the AARP Relay for Life team as being one the best teams in the area. He brought along plenty of information including a “get your test” brochure that focused on when men and women should be tested for cancer.
In expressing how important it is for everyone to be tested as the guidelines state, he said, “we need to fix our bodies before we have a breakdown.” Early detection is the key to treating cancer. Chartier told the group that both times his cancer episodes were caught by early detection.
This year’s Relay for Life event will be on June 22 and 23 at Manning Elementary School in Roanoke Rapids. It will start at 6 p.m. with the survivor lap followed by the caregiver lap. All money raised at last weeks AARP spaghetti dinner and the Relay for Life will go to the American Cancer Society.