Relay for Life raises almost $140,000
Getting closer to a cure
Relay for Life raises almost $140,000
By KURT HAUGLIE, DMG Writer
HOUGHTON — Shannon Bevain has a special reason for taking part in the Relay for Life cancer research fund-raising event each year.
“A lot of people I know have died from cancer,” Bevain said. “My brother is actually in remission.”
Her mother, grandfather and grandmother all died from cancer, Bevain said.
Bevain, who is from Hancock, was with other family members Saturday as the Relay for Life was coming to an end at the Houghton High School track.
Bevain said she’s been attending the local Relay for Life for most of the 11 years it’s been conducted, not only because of her personal connection to cancer, but also for what it means for everyone.
“Finding a cure for cancer is one of the most important things (we can do),” she said.
Near the end of the 24 hours of the Relay for Life, event manager Kathy Archambeau said she was extremely pleased with the results.
“I think it was a complete success,” she said.
Archambeau said as of 1 p.m. Saturday $138,823.30 had been raised by the event.
During the 11 years the local event has been conducted, almost $1 million has been raised, and Archambeau said after all the receipts are counted, by the end of the event’s fiscal year she’s confident that amount will be reached.
“We have until Aug. 31 to get that million dollars,” Archambeau said.
Carl Fulsher, American Cancer Society community development director from Iron Mountain who was in attendance at the event, said he was impressed, also.
“I thought it went great,” he said.
Fulsher said he’s certain the $1 million total can be reached by Aug. 31.
“Money always trickles in afterward,” he said.
Besides the Houghton Relay for Life, Fulsher said there will be one on July 14-15 in Sault Ste. Marie and on July 28-29 in St Ignace, but the Copper Country event seems to be the most successful.
“This is the top fund-raising county in the Upper Peninsula,” he said.
Cherri Datto, owner of Curves for Women in Houghton, brought a team to the Relay for Life because of a close connection to cancer.
“So many of our members have cancer or have gone through cancer,” Datto said. “We lost one a month ago.”
Participants in the Relay for Life get donations based on the amount of time they plan to walk, and Datto said members of her group have a minimum donation requirement.
“Everyone that’s on the team has to raise $100,” she said.
One of those Curves for Women team members is Betty Gaff, who said she’s a cancer survivor. She’s walking for the future.
“I walk for the next generation,” Gaff said. “I want the next generation and the one after that to not have to go through (cancer).”
Kurt Hauglie can be reached at khauglie@mininggazette.com
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