Helping Hatteras Island cancer patients is topic of radio show…WITH AUDIO

Banks was a founding member of the Cancer Foundation who was president for most of the time she was with the group. She retired from the board in 2012. Slaughter joined the board in 2007 and has been president since 2012.

The Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation was started by Laney Howell, who moved to Hatteras Island in 1996 and was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998. Through the next several years of chemotherapy, radiation, and stem cell replacement, she was helped and supported by many friends on Hatteras.  In 2000, she decided she wanted to do something for the community that had been so important to her.

She got her friends together and told them what she wanted to do at a dinner at the Breakwater Restaurant in November 2000. By early 2001, the Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation was well underway and sponsored its first very successful fundraiser, a spring dance, in March 2001.

Laney suffered a recurrence of her cancer that spring, and she died on July 5, 2001. But the group she started forged ahead in her memory and has grown over the past 15 years.

Slaughter says in the interview that since its inception, the Cancer Foundation has awarded grants for medical care and travel to 128 Hatteras islanders.  The grants have totaled $540,000.

The Spring Dance, which this year is on April 11, is still a major fundraiser and along the way, other events to raise money have been added — a Fun Run in October, a Chowder Cook-off at the Day at the Docks in September, a fishing tournament, a July 4 event, and more.

The Cancer Foundation is an all-volunteer effort and all of the money raised goes directly to cancer patients in need.

You can learn more about the foundation, how it helps patients, and how you can help in this interview. More information is available on the website, www.hicf.org, or call Sydney Slaughter at 252-473-0830.

“To the Point,” which is hosted by Island Free Press editor Irene Nolan, airs on the island’s community radio station, FM 101.5 and FM 99.9, at 5 p.m. on the first and third Sunday of each month.  It is repeated on the second and fourth Sunday. Those who don’t live on Hatteras can listen to the show on Sundays through live streaming at www.radiohatteras.org.

To listen to an audio of the interview, scroll down to the “To the Point” logo — an aerial photo of Cape Point — and click on it.

MORE ABOUT ‘TO THE POINT

On the show, IFP editor Irene Nolan will be interviewing newsmakers about the events and issues that affect all of us who live on Hatteras Island and those of us who love to visit here.

“You can expect to hear from folks who are making the news, those who are decision-makers, and some who are just plain interesting to talk to about the island and its past, present, and future,” she says.

Because the station’s all-volunteer staff and small budget are stretched tight, the show is pre-recorded.  At this point, listeners cannot call in questions.

Although Radio Hatteras broadcasts only on Hatteras Island, others can now listen to the station live through streaming on their computers. So if you don’t live on Hatteras, you can still listen to the show on Sundays at 5 p.m. Go the www.radiohatteras.org.

If you miss it, the audio is posted on the Island Free Press the week after the interview.

You can let Nolan know about folks you would like her to interview and suggest questions to ask.  Send your ideas to editor@islandfreepress.org.

MORE ABOUT RADIO HATTERAS

Radio Hatteras is our community, non-profit radio station and depends on grants, memberships, and underwriting.

It broadcasts around the clock with news — including such things as surfing and fishing reports — community announcements, music, and special programs.

Our community radio station also needs your support, and you can give that by purchasing a membership or by underwriting the station if you are a business or another community non-profit.

Radio Hatteras memberships are $50 for a family, $25 for an individual and $10 for a student. Mail memberships and other contributions to Radio Hatteras, P.O. Box 339, Frisco, NC 27936.

E-mail info@radiohatteras.org or call (252) 995-6000 for information about underwriting opportunities.

You can read more about Radio Hatteras and its music and programs on its Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/radiohatteras.

The new Radio Hatteras website is http://www.radiohatteras.org. There’s information on memberships, underwriting, and programming, among other things.

Radio Hatteras wants to publicize community events.  You can send them at least two weeks in advance to psa@radiohatteras.org.

If you have a special request for a song, you can e-mail it to studio@radiohatteras.org.

If you have news, you can send it to news@radiohatteras.org.