By Jim Reece -

The group Amador Support, Transportation And Resource Services prepares for its fifth annual Camp Out For Cancer with its own little legacy. The group has a 4-year tally of 36,000 dollars that it raised for regional cancer research. That equates to 10 percent of the running total the last 4 years going to research, while the rest of the funds stay local. Executive Director Ginger Rolf said that STARS transports cancer patients to doctor’s appointments around the county and the region, and started its own walk-a-thon, the all-night Camp Out For Cancer five years ago. STARS had one cancer van at the time. Now they have four vans, purchased with the Camp Out funds. The other 10 percent goes to research at the Sutter Cancer Center, where Dr. Vincent Caggiano head research. The funds stay pretty local for research, Rolf said, because “patients from Amador County go for radiation and other things we don’t offer usually go to Sutter Cancer Center.” The hospital, at 2800 L Street in Sacramento, is part of the Sutter Hospital organization.

The STARS Camp Out For Cancer has 29 teams signed up, with 800 participants expected, Rolf said. The event will be held September 20th and 21st at the Argonaut High School football field, with teams walking around the Argonaut track, starting at 10 a.m. Saturday and ending at 9 a.m. Sunday. STARS has a Camp Out goal this year to raise 100,000 dollars. The event will have 7 bands and also a karaoke party. For information about the Camp Out For Cancer or to make contributions, call the STARS Jackson office at (209) 223-1246. Online, see www.AmadorSTARS.org.