LEESBURG – More than $80,000 was raised during Saturday night’s annual Cancer Care Fund of Kosciusko County Gala. Hundreds of people attended the gala and the auction brought in $85,745, according to Liz Surface, auction chairwoman. The gala raises money for the fund and was held at Tippecanoe Lake Country Club. The fund assists those battling with cancer in Kosciusko County with rent or mortgage payments, utilities, and car payments and insurance. Attendees had the opportunity to bid on live- and silent-auction items that were donated by community members. The theme for the evening was “Evening of Hope: Back to the Roaring ’20s.” Rich Haddad, K21 Health Foundation president, provided the invocation. Harry Kyler, former North Webster American Legion Post 253 commander, presented Dave Stell, Cancer Care Committee volunteer, with a $6,100 check that will go to the Cancer Care Fund. The proceeds are from a Kay’s Cruise For Cancer that was July 13 on Webster Lake in memory of Kyler’s wife, Kay, who died in 2013 after battling cancer. Laurelie Hall, keynote speaker and sister of John Thomas Hall, who died in 2012 from leukemia at age 35, presented Stell with a $60,000 check for the Cancer Care Fund from the John Thomas Hall Fund. The fund, in memory of John Thomas, was started by Laurelie and her mother, Donnette Smock. Laurelie spoke about her brother John. “I am here tonight attempting to fill some pretty big shoes left here for me by my brother,” Laurelie said. She said her brother was a unique person who had an unbreakable spirit and was filled with determination and a colorful sense of humor. Laurelie said after overcoming paralysis, he created a non-profit foundation, TeamWalkOn, in an effort to bring quality care to people affected by spinal cord injuries. Laurelie said her brother died of leukemia, and she attended the gala to give meaning to his suffering. “We all walked through the doors of this country club tonight because cancer has touched our lives in one way or another,” Laurelie said. “It’s with us tonight that we can continue John’s legacy and make miracles happen.”
