In order to raise awareness of a disease finding ever-younger victims, a breast cancer awareness club formed this year at Marion High School.

The MHS Hope Foundation is planning a couple fundraisers this year to raise funds for cancer research and provide more opportunities for the community to learn about the disease as part of its efforts.

"A lot of people who are relatively young are battling cancer," organizer Marty Cameron said. "I thought we could do soemthing to help out and it be something the kids could be involved with."

The Hope Foundation is selling shirts and wristbands and also is planning a dinner at Heartland Regional Medical Center during October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

"This shows the community we're concerned and trying to make a difference," Kayla Brown said. "We're not selfish."

One of the students in the club, Courtney Roberts, said her grandmother and grandfather battled cancer. Last year, the family took her grandmother to Southern Illinois University's breast cancer awareness basketball game as a surprise.

"We told her to wear pink," Roberts said. "When she found out (why), she was crying out there."

Hope Foundation shirts are available at the high school for $15 and wristbands cost $2.

The dinner is set for 7 p.m. October 9 at HRMC, with tours of the women's diagnostic center beginning at 6 p.m.

Individual tickets cost $15, with tables of four for $50 and tables of eight $100. A breast cancer survivor and a doctor will speak. A silent auction and raffle also will be held.

Contact Cameron at the high school (993-8196 ext. 496) for more information.