Campbell County Cancer Association presentation at Rotary

By Charlotte Underwood 

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – Campbell County Cancer Association Director Clarence Lowe guest spoke to South Campbell County Rotarians at Tuesday’s Rotary Luncheon. 

Lowe gave a presentation on how the Cancer Association started and what it does for Campbell Countians with Cancer.

The organization has been around for more than 35 years and has helped thousands of local cancer patients. According to Lowe, since its beginning in 1985, the Campbell County Cancer Association has received and donated out in excess of $1.5 million dollars to help locals with Cancer. 

It’s all volunteer, with no paid employees. The non profit works to supply gasoline cards, medicine, supplies and food supplements for local Campbell Countians going through Cancer. 

Lowe credits the idea to start the Cancer Association to late Billie and Tom Leach. 

Leach, a realtor, was a cancer survivor. The story goes that as the Leaches sat in a Knoxville doctor’s waiting room, Tom Leach asked Billie Leach “How do people afford to come to these appointments? This costs money.” They then came up with the idea of the Campbell County Cancer Association. 

Over more than three decades, the CCCA has helped thousands of cancer patients. All the money raised by the CCCA stays in Campbell County just for the county’s Cancer patients.

“We’ve been doing this for over years. We have so many affected by Cancer right here in Campbell County, which is why our theme is ‘Charity begins at home.'” Lowe said.

Lowe said he and others at the Cancer Association are “getting older” and he would like to see younger people getting involved as well.

“Cancer is one of those things that in some way or another affects all of us, and we try to lessen the burden on those suffering and going through treatments,” Lowe said. 

All funds donated to the Campbell County Cancer Association stay within the county and go to help locals suffering from Cancer. 

For more information or to make donations to the Campbell County Cancer Association, contact Lowe at 423.562.2246. 

The office is in the West End Community Center.  If you would like to donate, please mail your check to the CCCA, P.O. Box 122, Jacksboro, Tennessee 37757. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 02/08/2023-6AM)