RARDEN - Raising money is easy, according Granny's Angel member Jane Lilly.

“If you get people together and you add music and food, you have a fundraiser,” she said.

The group hosted it's second Pickin' in the Park cancer benefit Sunday at Rarden Park.

Performers included the Poverty String Band, Jim Evans, Dick Ash and Anita Gillette, among many others.

Granny's Angels is a Scioto County-based group of 12 volunteers that raise money for the American Cancer Society. Some of its members are cancer survivors.

“We raise money all year long,” Lilly said. “We do all kinds of events - spaghetti dinners, gospel shows, we sell bears, we sell candy bars. Anytime we can raise money, we raise it.”

Many of the Sunday acts perform regularly at the Southern Ohio Opery in Lucasville, including Donna Cunningham.

“If you're not doing anything, the main thing is to help out,” she said of playing the cancer benefit. “And plus, you love to sing. We don't have a drummer today, so it's not going to sound as good as it usually does. But most of the folks here don't mind. They're just having a good time.”

Greg Romanello, of the Poverty String Band, said the band tries to play three or four cancer benefit shows each year.

“Cancer is such a prevalent problem in this area,” he said. “It seems everyone you know either has a loved one or a neighbor affected by it. It affects everyone's life. So whatever small amount everyone can put forth, we'd like to make a difference.”

Lilly said cancer can eventually be wiped out. But it won't be easy.

“Cancer is not a virus,” she said. “It is your own body cells working against themselves.”

Lilly said a cure for each type of cancer, like lung, bladder or brain cancer, must be found.

“They've made wonderful strides with the new designer drugs,” she said. “Designer drugs are not cures. But they will help you live with it and live a normal life.”

The key to finding cures for each type of cancer lies with research, Lilly said.

JEFF BARRON can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 236.