Joan Lund Memorial Cash for Cancer Drive a huge success
WOODVILLE — At 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 7, an air horn sounded, and the Joan Lund Memorial Cash for Cancer Drive was underway with the 5K – the first event of the day.
“We had around 80 adults compete in the 5K and 25 kids running in the Kid’s 1 Mile”, reported Gabe Schauf, one of the event chairs. These numbers indicated that the charity had met another one of its three goals, to have at least 100 participants in the run. The others were to gain over 250 fans on their facebook page (www.facebook.com/joanlundmemorial) – a goal accomplished in the weeks leading up to the event, and to raise at least $15,000 for the Arizona Assistance in Health Care organization, a group that supports families with the expenses that come with the battle against cancer, and other long-term diseases. “People don’t realize it isn’t just the cost of the medical treatment that is hard on families”, said Briana Lund, Joan’s daughter. “Family members are taking off of work, traveling, needing a place to stay, things to eat, all to be with their loved one who is getting the treatment.” It was with this in mind that Joan had expressed a desire to help. “She was always willing to help and give to others, and wanted to help the families who are going through these tough times.”
When Joan died last year, her family and friends picked up the torch in her memory and made this event a success. After the 5K and Kid’s run, there were plenty more activities and fund-raising events. Many local businesses and community members donated over 140 items that were used in drawings and silent and live auctions. A community pig roast was held at 5, and at 7pm, the crowd was entertained by Joan’s favorite band, the TC Cats. During their first break, auctioneer, Tom Morris stepped up and conducted a very exciting live auction. 13 items in the auction, including football tickets, art prints, jewelry, and stereo equipment were highly sought after by the crowd. When it was all said and done, the group of volunteers was excited to see they bypassed their third, and most important goal, raising $18,000 in Joan’s memory. “We couldn’t have done it without the support of the community,” says Gabe. From donors, to participants, to the volunteers who worked countless hours to make this happen, it was a great day and huge success.”
“Mom would have been so excited and proud,” said Briana. The volunteers appreciate everyone for making the event a huge success. The event sponsors were Houston’s Salon and Spa, Wipfli Financial Group, JJ’s Sports Bar, State Farm Insurance, Baldwin Machine, Sons Tool, O’Connell Family Funeral Home, Rick & Peg’s Pleasant View, Parkview Community Campus, Nilssen’s Food, Veenendall Livestock Inc, Hilltop Bar & Grill, Cenex, Smith Sales LLC, Snap Fitness, BW Machine, St. Croix Jeweler’s Workshop, Don Timmerman, and the many other donors and supporters.