The Lake Wales Post Office has a mailman who delivers more than mail. John Fitzgerald delivers hope that someday we will stamp out cancer.

As the volunteer marketing director for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in Lake Wale, Fitzgerald has been the highest fund-raiser for the past eight years. He’s one of six on the Post Office team and hopes to raise even more funds in 2013. His dedication to the cause is in honor of a friend who died in his arms after battling lung cancer.

“Our goal is to have 125 survivors on hand to kick off the 2013 Relay for Life,” Fitzgerald said. All are invited for a free dinner on Mon., Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. in the 2nd floor classroom at Lake Wales Medical Center’s Hunt Building. In addition to dinner, Fitzgerald will serve some food for thought about finding a cure for cancer and deliver a challenge to the community to form 30 teams.

“Teams can come from schools, businesses, churches, homeowners associations, civic groups and even families,” Fitzgerald explained. “If every team worldwide reaches their goal, early detection would be a reality. That would greatly improve treatment, bringing the cure and survivor rate to an all time high.”

According to the ACS website, the Relay is a global movement “to raise awareness about what we can do to stay well from cancer and raise money to help fuel the world’s largest walk to end cancer.” The Relay will be at the Lake Wales High School on Apr. 5-6 , 2013.