Fundraiser will aid those going through cancer treatment
By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times
MFL MarMac Friends Helping Friends will hold its annual cancer fundraiser on Friday, Sept. 6, and Saturday, Sept. 7.
The event began seven years ago, separate from the group’s Winter Triathlon and Benefit, recalled organizer Gay Hallberg.
“We wanted to do another fundraiser because all these people were getting cancer,” she said, “but we didn’t want to take from the Winter Triathlon fund.”
The weekend’s first event, Bart Bingo, will be held this year at Backwoods Bar and Grill, in McGregor, on Friday night. Pre-sign up begins at 6 and 8 p.m.
Activities will continue at Backwoods early Saturday morning with a 5K walk/run leaving at 7:30 a.m. Sign up begins at 7 a.m.
A pancake breakfast, offering pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, applesauce, coffee, milk and orange juice, will run from 7 to 10 a.m. A good will donation is appreciated.
“You can go on the run, then come back and sit and relax and have some breakfast,” Gay said.
At 9:30 a.m., people can begin signing up for the 10 a.m. euchre tournament.
Bid on items in the silent auction from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. To donate new items, drop them off at Gay’s residence at 812 Walton St., in McGregor. Monetary donations can be made out to the MFL MarMac Friends Helping Friends Cancer Fund and mailed to Gay at Box 452, McGregor, IA 52157.
Proceeds from the fundraiser will go to individuals within the MFL MarMac School District who are going through cancer treatment. To date, said Gay, the group has helped over 75 people with $300 gas cards.
“We can’t do everything,” she remarked, “but we can do something, and that’s the $300 gas cards.”
This gesture means a lot to the community members who receive them, noted Gay’s husband, Lynn.
“It gives people an inspirational boost, to know people care,” he said.
“They’re elated that we think of them as one of our own,” Gay added.
She’s hopeful people of all ages will come out this weekend to support the event and keep the fundraiser going. Cancer is a monster she and Lynn have personally dealt with, and they know countless others who’ve been impacted.
“We hate cancer,” Gay said. “That’s why we work so hard at this fundraiser.”
