Cancer Care fundraising committee explains mission, announces events

The Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fundraising Committee has been hard at work getting the 2023 calender of events finalized.

The Cancer Care Fund of Kosciusko County exists to help ease the financial burdens felt by patients and their families. Since the patients are often unable to continue working during treatment, a cancer diagnosis can be financially devastating.

The fund assists Kosciusko County cancer patients and their families with a variety of needs. The goal of the fund is to allow the patient to focus more on treatment and recovery and less on financial difficulties.

Calendar year 2022 offered a variety of strong fundraising events that successfully raised a total of $134,643, assisting 29 client/families in the county.

The success of these events is the result of a caring team consisting of tireless volunteers, engaged attendees and, of course, financial support from individuals and the corporate community. In past years, the committee members have raised considerable amounts: $84,601 in 2020 and $11,140 in 2021.

A little history about the fund.

In 1999, a group of Kosciusko County citizens banded together to raise funds to assist individual cancer patients with a golf outing and auction. Today the Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fundraising Committee organizes many events throughout the year. Many organizations and clubs in the county create their own fundraisers and donate the proceeds to the Cancer Care Fund.

Events for this year include:

• Friday, May 19 — Dueling Pianos and Live Auction at the Owls Nest. Tickets available at dueling _against_cancer2023. eventbrite.com.

• Friday, June 6 — Glow Golf at Wawasee Golf Club with The Tempos from Indy performing and Big Mouth BBQ catering.

• Thursday, Aug. 31 — Charity Golf Event, Maxwelton Golf Club.

• Sunday, Oct. 1 — Power of Pink Champagne Brunch, designer purse auction at Tippy Country Club. Find event times and updates on Facebook at Cancer Care Fund of Kosciusko County. One more event may be added for October; check the Facebook page often for updates.

Individual donations, estate gifts and memories for loved ones also allow the fund to grow and support patients and families in the community who have financial need. What a comfort to cancer patients to know that help is available.

The K21 Health Foundation administers the fund at no expense to the committee, so 100% of all net money raised goes back to the fund. The committees are all volunteers and their fundraising efforts are all local businesses and individuals. For more information, visit koshelpcenter.org. The committee’s website will soon be updated. Be sure to check out cancercarefundkc.org.