BANGOR – The American Cancer Society’s annual Volunteer Celebration dinner was held recently at the Spectacular Event Center in Bangor.

MaineGeneral Medical Center’s Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care in Augusta received a 2007 Special Recognition Award for leadership in following American Cancer Society nutritional guidelines.

Evidence suggests that one-third of more than 500,000 cancer deaths that occur in the U.S. each year can be attributed to diet and physical activity habits, including overweight and obesity. The American Cancer Society nutritional guidelines recommend a healthful diet that emphasizes plant foods, including eating five or more servings or a variety of fruits and vegetables each day.

The Harold Alfond Center received the award for unique and innovative use of the society’s nutrition guidelines and recipes. All menus used at the center’s cafe were developed around American Cancer Society healthful eating recipes, and the cafe posts healthful eating guidelines on its daily menus.

The center’s efforts to completely overhaul its traditional cafeteria menu demonstrate its concern for the health of its patients and staff as well as the larger community.

The American Cancer Society’s national office in Atlanta regards the efforts of the Alfond Center as a “best practices” model for cancer centers and health care facilities nationwide. Accepting the award on behalf of the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care were Troy Roy, administrative director, and Shelly Goraj, food and nutrition service manager.