Boy Scout Troop Hiking to Raise Awareness of Oral Cancer in Honor of their Former Scoutmaster
Source: abcnews4.comAuthor: Staff AWENDAW, S.C. (WCIV) -- South Carolina is second in the nation for the number of people who die from oral cancer every year. That statistic hits too close to home for one local Boy Scout troop who is now taking on the fight against the cancer. For five days, Boy Scout Troop 50 will be hiking through the Francis Marion National Forest from Awendaw to Moncks Corner. “Last summer our former Scoutmaster was diagnosed with tongue and throat cancer and he had to step down,” said Larry Elkin, who is volunteering to help lead the hike. Elkin says the boys have been preparing the 53 mile voyage for months. Their goal is to raise $5,000 to donate to the Oral Cancer Foundation. “Mr. Hardy loved his troop and he loved to hike, so what way better way to honor and bring awareness than through something he loved,” said Elkin. “If it's one thing Mr. Hardy taught me is that if you are not going to do something right then don't do it at all,” said Reid Kaplan, a 17-year-old who was under Hardy's leadership when he was in the sixth grade. It's memories and lessons learned from Hardy that Kaplan says will keep him going when he gets tired. “I remember going camping with him, and no matter how tired or worn out he was he never gave up he never complained, so when I'm drained I'll be thinking about that,” said Kaplan. Cole Shuber is another [...]