Dawna Cardenas

Dawna Cardenas, who was named the 2011 C&S Volunteer of the Year, dedicates more than 1,000 hours to the American Cancer Society annually.
As event co-chair, she devoted her time organizing the Relay for Life of the Greater Keene Area, N.H. in addition to attending events throughout the area to promote cancer awareness and education.
Dawna focuses on working with the public to increase knowledge about programs and services offered by the American Cancer Society. Her efforts also include educating people by distributing information about early detection and self-examinations. This encourages people to address the issue of cancer and to reassure them that assistance is available to those who need it.
The Relay for Life of the Greater Keene Area is an eighteen hour event organized by Dawna and her fellow volunteers. The Relay raises awareness and funds for the American Cancer Society, while also honoring the memory of family and friends who lost the battle against cancer. For participants like Dawna, who lost her grandmother to cancer, this initiative provides a moment of remembrance and a reinforcement of the importance of finding a cure.
Dawna’s efforts have also resulted in celebrations of life, including when she helped a family locate a bone marrow donor for their son.
Dawna’s dedication to the American Cancer Society is evident by the sheer amount of time that she spends planning and organizing events, providing cancer education and reaching out to the community is what makes her a Daily Point of Light.