Dr. Jay McAfee of Albany to speak at Blakely cancer fundraiser

BLAKELY — To help continue the battle against cancer, Primary Care of Southwest Georgia will hold its first “A Midsummer’s Evening of Hope in Early County” on June 23 and include an appearance from Dr. Jay McAfee of Albany.

The event will take place 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the Blakely Town and Country Club, 120 Yank Lane, with doors opening at 5 p.m. to begin auction item bidding. McAfee, with Radiation Oncology Associates at Phoebe Cancer Center, will be making a presentation at the event, officials with PCSG said.

“A Midsummer’s Evening of Hope in Early County” is being held to raise funds to increase cancer screenings for Early County residents. Specifically, the proceeds from this event will be used for preventive cancer screenings for low-income and underinsured men and women who are patients of Early County primary care providers, officials said.

The event is being held in partnership with the Cancer Coalition of South Georgia. It will include a buffet dinner, silent auction and live entertainment by the Blakely Mass Choir.

Opportunities to provide support include business and individual sponsorships, any level of financial or auction item donation and purchasing tickets. Tickets are $15 each and must be purchased in advance at PCSG, Blakely-Early County Chamber of Commerce, CJ’s Fish and Grill, Commercial State Bank or Pioneer Community Hospital of Early.

Health officials say Early County is one of five counties in the state, and the only one in Southwest Georgia, with a rising cancer rate.

“The good news is that (PCSG) is providing high-quality, affordable primary and preventive care for the people of our community, including low-income and medically underserved individuals. Preventing and controlling cancer is a vital part of what we do,” officials with the organization said.

McAfee graduated summa cum laude from the University of Georgia, then earned his medical degree at Medical College of Georgia. He completed an internship at University of Florida College of Medicine at Shands Hospital and was chief resident during his radiation oncology residency at University of Minnesota Medical Center. He returned to Southwest Georgia in 2010.

Officials are expecting between 50-150 people to attend. For those unable to attend, donations will be accepted before and after the event.

For more information on the event, contact Brooks Carter at (229) 723-7139 or [email protected]. To learn about the Cancer Coalition, please visit sgacancer.org. The “Events and Fundraisers” tab on the site includes information about the “A Midsummer’s Evening.”