By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

Connie Johnson, 46, of Burdick, serves as chairman of Morris County Relay for Life and as a team captain of the local Burdick Bunch, in order to raise thousands of dollars for cancer research.

The death of her husband’s grandmother in 2009 led her to get involved with American Cancer Society. The leader was stepping down and no one had volunteered to take her place.

“I was concerned that we would lose that money, and we needed to keep that money coming for research,” she said.

Johnson also rode in Monday’s parade in celebration of the chapter’s 25th anniversary.

She said the Morris County group raised $41,000 in 2019 and over $1 million during its existence.

She organizes fundraising events which have included a benefit golf tournament, a soup and game night, and year-round farm auction concessions.

She said American Cancer Society does much more than fund cancer research. It also offers many services to cancer patients and their families.

Hope Lodge provides accommodations for people undergoing cancer treatment. AMC provides wigs and mastectomy bras for women and pays for transportation to and from treatment. It also has a 24/7 hotline service.

Seeing the money raised for cancer research is Johnson’s greatest reward.

“I like to help other people,” she said. “I know what that money goes toward, and that’s why I do it.”

Johnson recently received a “Daily Point of Light Award” by an organization founded by former President George H.W. Bush. In his 1989 inaugural address, he called for “a thousand points of light,” and created a nonprofit to advocate for volunteerism worldwide.