The C-word.

When the cancer diagnosis comes to a friend, a family member, or even you, it’s devastating.

Eight years ago I started volunteering with the American Cancer Society for the annual telethon. My mom died of cancer in 1991 and it was time to help raise money so that others have a chance to survive.

When I volunteered I told George Taylor I’d be happy to answer the phones but he had other ideas.

Over the years I helped in several ways, some on air and social media and behind the scenes.

It’s especially rewarding to talk with the Courage Award honorees. This year we had Joe Guardiani, who was marking his first anniversary of his cancer surgery and another, Bernard Krebs, who was 13 years cancer free. We met Allison Rankis-Solley, a young mom who has breast cancer and Adele FaRannte, a young mom whose daughter Emily is battling cancer. Suzanne and Vicki Pratt, a mother-daughter duo from West Penn Township both have the cancer gene and had their stomachs removed. Michelle Hermany from Tamaqua has battled cancer twice.

Their stories represent the many people we know who are staring down cancer.

It hit home again this year as someone close to me was diagnosed and faced surgery. It’s her story so I won’t share it here.

But in fact it’s everyone’s story.

As I interview people on the telethon, I hear it over and over again. Nearly every musician, dancer and person bringing donations are there because they know someone with cancer.

Christina Obrecht, of Crusaders for a Cause, brought $1,000. A cancer survivor, she was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2005. Nearly 20 years later she is here thanks to research and treatment.

By the way their annual carnival is coming up May 18-21 in the Palmerton Borough Park if you want to help out some community causes.

Vicki Willman has been driving from Maryland for about 15 years to play the tympani drum roll to announce the total. She met telethon chairman Joe Krushinsky through work in public television and sets aside this weekend every year. Vicki is a breast cancer survivor herself.

Pat McGeehen and Jay Smar are two of the original performers from the telethon that started as a student project at Tamaqua High School. “Back when we started you didn’t hear of people being cured,” Pat said.

That hope of family and friends being treated is what keeps them coming back.

Kathy Dombrosky Peters helps to keeps the telethon running. She decorates the set and checks in the talent and people making donations.

A senior in high school when it started in 1980, she didn’t work the first telethon but had a TV class with Joe, under the direction of George Taylor.

She did appear on the telethon occasionally in the 1980s to sing with the late Bud Wychulis, and then connected with Joe at the 15-year reunion.

“Friends of mine do a lot of volunteering in their town and always told me I should find something to volunteer for ... so after talking with Joe it seemed like it might be a fun thing to do with some of my free time.”

She started in 1998 and of course kept coming back.

She has chaired the auction and coordinates the Cancer Fighters Dinner, which honors volunteers each year.

“I had been the person for several years that did whatever was needed,” Kathy said.

Many friends and family have been diagnosed with cancer over the years. “That is why I continue.”

Lisa Hiles, who has been volunteering at the telethon for nearly 30 years, is active year-round with fundraisers. “None of us can say we haven’t been touched by cancer,” Lisa said.

People in her family have won the battle.

Her cousin had breast cancer years ago and just retired from her job and is spending time with a grandchild.

Noting the strides made with the very donations people are sending locally, Lisa said, “In just my lifetime, we’ve seen so much done with the cancers, prostate cancer, breast cancer, even pancreatic cancer. It used to be a death sentence.”

The family of volunteers on the telethon mean a lot to Lisa. “It really gets you,” she said.

When a friend remarked that she was giving up a whole weekend for the telethon, she said, “This is the best place to be.”

Of course she’s hoping a cure will be found. “I’d love to be able to have this fundraiser for something else,” Lisa said.