AKRON - On Saturday at the Akron Community Center, the Wheels On Fire Cancer Crusaders hosted their annual Smash Out Cancer event to a record crowd.  
A mission of the Beaver Dam Community Church, the annual event is the biggest fundraising event Wheels On Fire does each year. This year the night did not disappoint those in attendance, according to a news release from Wheels on Fire.
Entertaining the crowd with a mix of genres sung by Ed Rock, Mike Bowers and Kylene Crabb, the music had everyone enthralled, bringing tears to the eyes of some, the release states. The action-packed live auction, called by Brent Markley, was in itself its own form of entertainment.
Thirty-six items of furniture, sports memorabilia and passes, artwork, restaurant certificates and more were sold to the highest bidder. One highlight of the auction was when budding entrepreneur 10-year Cole Nelson, some may know him from the Mentone Community Market, stepped up and wanted to auction off 10 pounds of ground beef from his meat market. Bidding wars happened throughout the evening, sometimes between husband and wife, all in good fun to raise money for a cause.
The pie auction followed the live auction with 59 pies, cakes and cupcakes. This year they had the addition of kettle corn to the auction. Top honors for pie sale went to Karen Francis with her mother’s recipe for peaches and cream pie.
Ending the evening, Wheels On Fire remembered those who were lost to cancer and honored those still in the fight and the heroes who have won the battle. Names were read and candles were illuminated and placed on a custom ribbon display made by team member Dave Morehouse.
Wheels On Fire Cancer Crusaders thanks all of those who attended the event, donated items for the auction, baked pies or cakes, helped at the event and all of those who support their ministry.
If you are interested in more information about the nonprofit group, contact Beaver Dan Community Church at 574-893-7052.