Family Video's fund-raising campaign hits home this year

BY BRYCE KELLY

Mt. Pleasant News

It doesn?t take a customer too many trips to Mt. Pleasant?s Family Video to see a staff that clearly works well together. And if a casual observation of staff camaraderie isn?t enough, their work during their annual Round It Up campaign will likely be proof enough.

For the fourth consecutive year, Family Video hosted the Round It Up Campaign to raise money for lymphoma, a type of the blood cancer. Upon the completion of this year?s campaign, which spanned from March 13 to March 29, the chain raised $1.3 million, and hopes to raise even more next year.

?Not too many people know about lymphoma, so why not raise awareness?? says Tony Starr, one of the managers of Mt. Pleasant?s Family Video. ?Lymphoma is the most common type of blood cancer, so it effects a lot more people than I think the general public realizes.?

And while this fact remains true, Stark says it wasn?t until one of Family Video?s own was diagnosed with the disease that their efforts became even more personal.

On Oct. 1, 2014, Mt. Pleasant native and Mt. Pleasant Family Video employee, Jenny Dun, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin?s Lymphoma, solidifying the local store?s determination to raise awareness and funds for cancer research.

?It was a shock, of course,? says Dun, explaining how she felt when doctors confirmed a lump in her pelvic area was in fact cancerous. ?But I decided that I was going to have a positive outlook on my diagnosis and beat it.?

And it was this attitude choice and the support she received from friends and family in the local community, that Dun says made her a ?lymphoma warrior?. In fact, during her treatment, Dun, who works as a district manager for Family Video, appeared in various Round It Up campaign videos to share her story, thus becoming somewhat of a figurehead for the entire campaign.

?When we play the campaign videos in our stores, we have a lot of customers that instantly recognize Jenny and feel more compelled to give because they know and love her,? says Whitney Jensen, also a manager at the local Family Video. ?She (Dun) is an absolute rock star. Every seven minutes, someone like Jenny is diagnosed with cancer, so we want to help bring an end to cancer however we can.?

And while the store won?t be in full fundraising mode for a few months, the staff insists months like September, which is designated as Cancer Awareness Month, is a great time to learn more about cancer as well as cancer research.

?After being diagnosed, I learned that there is not a lot of information about non-Hodgkin?s lymphoma out there, so campaigns like Round It Up are very important to me, and to others battling the cancer,? says Dun, who is currently in remission.

At the local Family Video, customers can give in a variety of ways, such as rounding up their rental or sale transaction to the nearest dollar, participating in raffles featuring prizes donated by businesses near the stores, and other activities like donating in order to throw pies in the face of store managers.

?A little goes a long way and every penny matters,? insists Starr, who was one of the managers that was handed a pie in the face during last year?s campaign. ?The community has always been a huge supporter of the campaign every year, and we have fun doing something good for people like Jenny. It?s good to know what little we do as a community is making such a huge difference.?

According to Family Video officials, 100 percent of the proceeds raised during the campaign are donated to cancer research or to programs that support patients battling cancer.

To learn more about local Round It Up efforts, visit the local Family Video at 304 West Washington Street, or visit www.familyvideo.com.