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Loraine Duclos, a resident of Greenwood and a volunteer with the American Cancer Society, recently received a Sandra C. Labaree Volunteer Values Awards from the Society recognizing her dedication to its life-saving mission. (Courtesy Photo)

TOPSHAM — The American Cancer Society recently presented a Sandra C. Labaree Volunteer Values Award to Loraine Duclos, a Greenwood resident. The award is the most honored accolade by the Society in New England. It recognizes Duclos’ remarkable accomplishments in support of the Society’s mission to celebrate lives, to save lives, and to lead the fight for a world without cancer.

Duclos has been an integral part of the success of the Coaches vs. Cancer program in New England for more than seven years, staff say. She volunteers her time to build, update and maintain a database with high school and college coaching contacts from more than 2,000 schools in New England. At least three times per year, prior to each sports season – fall, winter, and spring – Duclos visits every high school athletic webpage, as well as association pages and online portals to update the information used to steward the relationships in the Coaches vs. Cancer program and to recruit new supporters. She also has been available on extremely short notice to assist with the creation of specifically targeted lists such as athletic directors, golf courses, ski resorts, and, most recently, campgrounds.

“It is not an overstatement to say that Loraine’s work behind the scenes is a massive undertaking,” said Brian Casalinova, senior community development manager with the American Cancer Society. “Without her hard work and support on this gigantic and extremely time-consuming undertaking – often with very short deadlines – the Coaches vs. Cancer program would not have experienced the success and growth it has had across New England during the past few years.

The Sandra C. Labaree Volunteer Values Award is named in honor of the late Sandra C. Labaree, a longtime American Cancer Society volunteer from Maine. Despite her death from breast cancer in 2000, Labaree’s spirit and values live on through this award. Each year, the local area Board selects the most inspired and passionate individuals to receive this prestigious honor, whose service best exemplifies the Society’s organizational values of mission, stewardship, diversity, data-driven, and respect.

For more information on how to become a volunteer for the American Cancer Society or about the Society’s programs and services, please visitwww.Cancer.org or call 800-227-2345.