Supporters of the American Cancer Society telethon Sunday renamed its Cancer Fighters Award in memory of a community leader, Robert E. Ames of Coaldale.

The 40th anniversary of the American Cancer Society Telethon will kick off Saturday and Sunday from Penn’s Peak, being broadcast locally on cable stations and around the world on YouTube.

Volunteers took the time Sunday night to honor those who have helped to bring recognition to the cause with a dinner at Capriotti’s banquet hall.

Ames, 69, of Coaldale, died on Sept. 11, 2018.

According to his obituary, he was a lifelong educator, retiring after 35 years as an elementary school teacher, a member of St. Joseph’s of the Panther Valley Catholic Church, Summit Hill, and was serving on the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.

He was active in politics, serving as a member of the Republican Committee for Pennsylvania for more than 30 years. He worked for Sen. James Rhoades for 28 years; was the campaign treasurer for state Sen. David G. Argall; served as chairman for the NE Caucus for 24 years; and was a former chairman of the Schuylkill County Republican Committee, having served as its executive director in 2018.

According to his friends, Ames was so much more. Volunteer Lori Kane remembered him as her fifth-grade teacher who encouraged her to sing. “He has had an impact on so many people,” she said.

Friend Nathan Halenar said, “He never had it easy. He had so many health problems, but worked on campaigns until his last days.”

State Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-Schuylkill, said they became friends in high school, and he called on him for advice and to talk politics throughout his career. “Bob loved government and politics. I know he would be tickled pink about this award.”

Caregiver Richard Murphy accepted the award on behalf of his friend. “He was like my dad. He taught me never to give up and fought to the end, no matter what.”

Murphy said Ames’ nurse made the comment, “You can control a journey, but not the destiny.”

As the American Cancer Society works to wipe out cancer, Murphy said, “Hopefully, one of these days, we can control the destiny.”

The renamed award will take effect in 2020.

This year, the Cancer Fighter award was presented to Franklin Township Fire Chief Lynn Diehl and the fire company volunteers.

Diehl and his crew show up early Saturday morning to put together the setup for the telethon. Kathy Peters, who coordinates the set, said she doesn’t even have to tell them what to do, they just get to work.

“By noon it looks like I planned it,” telethon Chairman Joe Krushinksy said. “If we had to do it on our own, it would not look like that.”

The company members return to answer phones to take pledges.

The company has been volunteering for years, but the battle turned personal five years ago when Diehl was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Now he counts himself among the survivors.

Thomas J. Gerhard, vice chairman for the Carbon County Commissioners, read a proclamation signed by the board, “as a means of thanking Lynn Diehl and the company members for helping to make the lives of others in Carbon County better.”

The fire company volunteers look forward to helping the cancer volunteers.

“We’re all working together for a common cause,” Diehl said.