Citizens work during the annual cleanup effort to beautify Holland-Watson Veteran’s Park by picking up litter.This year’s Anti-Litter Campaign for the city of Chickamauga marks the first in the cleanup’s seven-year history that Anna Haney will not be out picking up trash, according to Joyce Harrison, third vice president and chair of conservation for the Chickamauga Woman’s Club, which hosts the annual effort.
For that reason, this year’s campaign is in honor and recognition of Haney, who is battling cancer.
“Each year, Anna has come at 8 a.m. to walk a mile and pick up trash,” Harrison said. “This has demonstrated her unwavering dedication to the cause. Each year she and other volunteers physically pick up trash, hoping each year the awareness will make a difference in eliminating the unsightly trash on the roadsides.
“Sadly, this year Anna will be unable to participate because she is ill and undergoing treatment for sarcoma – malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor.”
Haney is a 2014 Gordon Lee High alumna. Harrison said she is typically one of 60 volunteers on average at each year’s cleanup.