From left, Nancy Swensen, board member for Support, Transportation and Resource Services; Dahlton and Dahkota Brown, and Ginger Rolf, Camp Out for Cancer organizer, hold the charms that will be available through Sept. 17. Dahlton will donate 50 percent of the charm sale proceeds to STARS Camp Out for Cancer. Photo by: Brandi Ehlers These key chains will be available at Camp Out for Cancer and can be personalized for individuals. Photo by: Brandi Ehlers

In an effort to make a difference and support the fight for cancer, two local brothers have stepped up and found a new way to raise money for Camp Out for Cancer 2006.

Dahlton Brown, 12, and brother Dahkota Brown, 8, have created Italian charms with the Camp Out for Cancer logo, the Amador Support, Transportation and Resource Services logo, "In Memory of" with several different choices, "There is Hope" with a pink cancer ribbon, key chains that say "Amador Co. Camp Out for Cancer 2006," starter bracelets and watches for sale with a percentage of the proceeds to benefit STARS on any sales through the end of the event.

The brothers are donating a minimum of 50 percent of all charm sales from now until Sunday, Sept. 17, to STARS Camp for Cancer. At the event they will also have pink rubber bracelets with the words "Faith," "Strength," "Survivor" and "Hope" for $1 each.

This passion to support Camp Out for Cancer and STARS for both boys came from personal experiences. "We lost a grandfather to cancer and currently have a grandfather living with cancer," Dahlton said. "We also have an aunt that is a strong survivor and a 7-year-old cousin, Jensen, that is in remission with malignant melanoma and is doing great after loosing a chunk of his arm."

"(What the boys are doing) is awesome," said Nancy Swensen, a member of the STARS board. "We need more youth involvement. Cancer does not just effect adults it effects everyone."

The Italian charm sales began as their way to raise money for wrestling travel expenses. The boys can do custom orders for local schools, sports and community groups. They offer specials where the more you buy the more you save. Custom orders are available and take less than a week from order time to delivery.

Dahlton, an eighth-grader at Jackson Junior High School and student body president, thought of another way to support STARS and for his classmates to become involved.

"(The other officers and I) decided to have the theme for the first school dance to be 'Think Pink: Support the Fight for Cancer,'" Dahlton said. "We asked everyone to wear pink and $1 of every ticket sold goes to benefit STARS."

"Without the youth of Amador and surrounding counties we couldn't do what we do," said Ginger Rolf, Camp Out for Cancer organizer. "Even if a 100 kids attend the dance, it is 100 kids supporting the fight for cancer."

Dahlton and Dahkota will be selling their charms and bracelets at the Extreme Caffeine coffee wagon under the scoreboard at Argonaut High School during the entire 23 hours of Camp Out for Cancer. Extreme Caffeine, the Brown's family business, has also pledged to donate a minimum of $500 to STARS.

When asked how she felt about how her children wanted to selflessly help others, Toni Brown said, "I love it. I am so proud of them, Dad and I both are. Everyone is proud of them."

Dahlton hopes that he will be able to donate a minimum of $300 to STARS from the charms sales.

To order charms or for more information, call the Brown family at 295-1514 or e-mail TB0027@volcano.net.

In its third year Camp Out for Cancer hopes to raise $100,000 with this year's event. While 10 percent of the money raised goes toward research, 90 percent of funds raised stays local to support local needs. Camp Out for Cancer usually involves around 1,100 people throughout the 23 hour event.

For more information about Camp Out for Cancer, visit www.amadorstars.org.



Camp Out for Cancer this weekend

Nearly everyone has been touched by cancer in some way or another. Camp Out for Cancer shows how the Amador County community can reach out to its own by raising money to provide support services, transportation and resources to local cancer patients, survivors and their families.

The third annual Camp Out for Cancer will take place Sept. 16 and 17 at the Argonaut High School Stadium in Jackson. It will begin Saturday at 11 a.m. with the Opening Ceremony and Survivor Celebration. At 8 p.m. on Saturday the Illumination Ceremony will be held. The event will end at 9 a.m. on Sunday.

The event would not be possible without the tireless efforts of hundreds of people - the STARS' board and office manager, committee executives, team captains and members, corporate sponsors, local youth clubs and countless other volunteers.