MARTINSVILLE (WSLS 10) - All month, Southside libraries are helping raise awareness about the importance of cancer screenings and early detection.
The libraries have paintings displayed that were done by local cancer survivors.
They made the paintings during recent "Throw Paint At Cancer" sessions at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History.
Life coach and nationally recognized author Michele Ryan, who has written a book about her battle with cancer, will be at the libraries later this month.
On September 12, she'll be at the library in South Boston, on the 13th, she'll be in Chatham, on the 14th she'll be in Stuart, and on the 15th she'll be in Danville.
At each event, Ryan will discuss her book and will hold a Q&A session.
Various cancer resources will also be available at the libraries throughout the month.
"We have some of the highest cancer rates in the state in our area and the surrounding area as well. There's probably no one in these areas that doesn't know someone who's had cancer or has been affected by cancer," said Rick Ward, the director of the Blue Ridge Regional Library System.
The initiative is being coordinated by the Massey Cancer Center at VCU and the Cancer Research and Resource Center of Southern Virginia.