Stone, Rinker Receive Hero Awards at Cancer Gala
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
Approximately 180 people attended the 2011 Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund Gala and Auction at Tippecanoe Lake Country Club, Leesburg. It was the 12th year for the event that was started in 1999.
Cindy Knafel and Nicole Kelly served as co-chairs for the evening.
The Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund, administered by K21 Health Foundation, provides assistance to financially eligible residents of Kosciusko County who are suffering from cancer.
The purpose of the fund is to relieve some of the financial strain that accompanies cancer diagnosis.
The assistance provided from the fund includes, but is not limited to, items such as rent or mortgage payments, utilities, insurance, food, car payments and prescription medications.
There was a live and silent auction during the gala where people could bid on items to raise funds for the Cancer Care Fund. Jerry Ehle served as auctioneer.
The John Kirkwood Band provided music.
The “Black Eyed Peanuts”, including Zack Riley, Alex Bergen and WIll McGarvey, performed.
Rich Haddad, K21 Health Foundation president, presented the second annual Hero For The Cause Award. The award is for individuals who make a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer.
Nate Stone, a Warsaw Community High School senior, and Resia Rinker, Lakeside Fitness owner, received the awards.
Stone came up with the idea and organized the Race For Trace 5K Walk fundraiser in Winona Lake as part of his Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy project.
Tracey Yeager lost her battle with breast cancer last year, and was one of the Hero For The Cause recipients during last year’s gala. More than $25,000 was raised for the Cancer Care Fund during the race.
Stone said he was in fifth grade when Yeager was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“She inspired me by her courage, faithfulness, and giving spirit and during her five-year battle she never asked for sympathy, only prayers and always thought of other first,” Stone said.
Rinker was selected for the award because of her dedication to helping educate the community with free seminars focusing on preventing cancer through exercise, diet, nutrition, organic foods and healthy lifestyles.
She has been a supporter of the Cancer Care Fund and American Cancer Society. Her family, through the Beverly Rinker Family Foundation, purchased a mobile mammogram unit that offers free mammograms for woman needing them. Rinker lost her mother Beverly to cancer in 2007.
State Representative Rebecca Kubacki served as hostess for the gala.
Kubacki said since 2000 the Cancer Care fund has raised more than $1 million.
Kubacki said her oldest brother lost his life five years ago to cancer.
“My brother was the pillar of our family and when I saw him in a situation brought down to a vulnerable state to see him taking care of his wife was heart wrenching,” Kubacki said.
There were payment cards at each table setting encouraging those who attended to contribute financially to assist those with cancer.
Assistance was needed for housing costs, utilities, medication and food. The cards had personal cancer stories of people from the community who needed financial assistance.
There also were bracelets available for purchase. The purple bracelets represented all cancer, as well as the caregivers of those battling the disease. The orange bracelets were the color of the leukemia ribbon and were chosen to honor Bailey Moore who lost her battle in March at age 14.
Clarissa DuBois, daughter of Dennis and Julie DuBois, spoke about her father’s battle with prostate cancer. The DuBois are the owners of Sunrise Photo, Syracuse.
Clarissa said in April her father was diagnosed with prostate cancer, had surgery in August and is recovering.
She said as a child of someone who has cancer, she became the rock her father needed.
“Without benefits, auctions, and organizations like this many cancer patients and their families would feel overwhelmed and doubtful,” Clarissa said.[[In-content Ad]]
Approximately 180 people attended the 2011 Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund Gala and Auction at Tippecanoe Lake Country Club, Leesburg. It was the 12th year for the event that was started in 1999.
Cindy Knafel and Nicole Kelly served as co-chairs for the evening.
The Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund, administered by K21 Health Foundation, provides assistance to financially eligible residents of Kosciusko County who are suffering from cancer.
The purpose of the fund is to relieve some of the financial strain that accompanies cancer diagnosis.
The assistance provided from the fund includes, but is not limited to, items such as rent or mortgage payments, utilities, insurance, food, car payments and prescription medications.
There was a live and silent auction during the gala where people could bid on items to raise funds for the Cancer Care Fund. Jerry Ehle served as auctioneer.
The John Kirkwood Band provided music.
The “Black Eyed Peanuts”, including Zack Riley, Alex Bergen and WIll McGarvey, performed.
Rich Haddad, K21 Health Foundation president, presented the second annual Hero For The Cause Award. The award is for individuals who make a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer.
Nate Stone, a Warsaw Community High School senior, and Resia Rinker, Lakeside Fitness owner, received the awards.
Stone came up with the idea and organized the Race For Trace 5K Walk fundraiser in Winona Lake as part of his Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy project.
Tracey Yeager lost her battle with breast cancer last year, and was one of the Hero For The Cause recipients during last year’s gala. More than $25,000 was raised for the Cancer Care Fund during the race.
Stone said he was in fifth grade when Yeager was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“She inspired me by her courage, faithfulness, and giving spirit and during her five-year battle she never asked for sympathy, only prayers and always thought of other first,” Stone said.
Rinker was selected for the award because of her dedication to helping educate the community with free seminars focusing on preventing cancer through exercise, diet, nutrition, organic foods and healthy lifestyles.
She has been a supporter of the Cancer Care Fund and American Cancer Society. Her family, through the Beverly Rinker Family Foundation, purchased a mobile mammogram unit that offers free mammograms for woman needing them. Rinker lost her mother Beverly to cancer in 2007.
State Representative Rebecca Kubacki served as hostess for the gala.
Kubacki said since 2000 the Cancer Care fund has raised more than $1 million.
Kubacki said her oldest brother lost his life five years ago to cancer.
“My brother was the pillar of our family and when I saw him in a situation brought down to a vulnerable state to see him taking care of his wife was heart wrenching,” Kubacki said.
There were payment cards at each table setting encouraging those who attended to contribute financially to assist those with cancer.
Assistance was needed for housing costs, utilities, medication and food. The cards had personal cancer stories of people from the community who needed financial assistance.
There also were bracelets available for purchase. The purple bracelets represented all cancer, as well as the caregivers of those battling the disease. The orange bracelets were the color of the leukemia ribbon and were chosen to honor Bailey Moore who lost her battle in March at age 14.
Clarissa DuBois, daughter of Dennis and Julie DuBois, spoke about her father’s battle with prostate cancer. The DuBois are the owners of Sunrise Photo, Syracuse.
Clarissa said in April her father was diagnosed with prostate cancer, had surgery in August and is recovering.
She said as a child of someone who has cancer, she became the rock her father needed.
“Without benefits, auctions, and organizations like this many cancer patients and their families would feel overwhelmed and doubtful,” Clarissa said.[[In-content Ad]]
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