A 'Stroll for the Goal' at Lanier Village Estates

GAINESVILLE - Residents of Lanier Village Estates Sunday evening went on their very first Stroll for the Goal, a walk at sunset to raise money to combat cancer.

They walked behind the club house past luminaries lit by battery powered candles used as a safety precaution. The luminaries displayed names of someone affected by cancer. Carolyn Van De Pol survived breast cancer and said there were two goals she hoped the Sunday event would reach.

"Raise awareness of the problem of cancer, and financial support,that is the main thing," she said.

De Pol is a member of the Belles and Barbershoppers, a resident led group of semi-professional singers who performed as part of the event.

American Cancer Society area Executive Director Bill Manson hopes Stroll for the Goal becomes an annual event at Lanier Village.

"I hope this will be a wonderful example of what the retirement community can do and maybe we can duplicate this across Georgia," Manson said.

Manson added money raised by events like Stroll for the Goal supports local programs to aid cancer victims as well as cancer research grant programs that are Georgia based.