GREENVILLE – About 350 women (and a few men) clad in pink attire turned up to the 7th Annual Bunco 4 Boobies event Sunday at the Moose Lodge to show support of loved ones lost from breast cancer, current patients and survivors of the disease that women in the U.S. are diagnosed with every 2 minutes.
Through the event each year and through private donations, the Bunco 4 Boobies group has raised $106,000 for cancer patients in Darke County. Last Spring they donated $28,000 to the Cancer Association of Darke County.
“What has started as a one-time thing to help a friend [Kelly Fourman] has grown into this amazing opportunity to help people that we don’t know, that we’ll never know,” said Event committee member and emcee Jessica Artz. “When we started out helping a friend we realized that by helping one friend we could help many, many more people.”
Supporters came to have fun at the Rolling 4 a Cure event while playing Bunco, a dice game played with teams of four people. Door prizes, raffle prizes and new this year – a vacation package (from AAA) – were drawn for from people who purchased tickets. There were 12 large prize (DD) donors and 162 (A Cup) donors and event supporters. Prizes were given to the best team name and the best-dressed man and woman in attendance.
Christine Lynn, executive director of the Cancer Association of Darke County spoke to the crowd.
“If you could just be in the office and see some of our clients that come in and get the help that they need for medications, transportation, medical supplies, nutritional supplements or just to come in and talk with us so they get some support that way. The appreciation, the love and tears in their eyes, to know how rewarding and how important an event like this is, is important,” said Lynn.
Lynn said last year the association spent $109,000 on patient services in Darke County. Two hundred and eighty people are actively receiving benefits. Cancer patients are able to receive benefits for 5 years, said Lynn.
In February, 10 new cancer patients were received.
“These 10 clients may very well be facing the most difficult battle of their lives and they have help because of people like you,” said Lynn of the event attendees.
The Cancer Association of Darke County is located at 1111 Sweitzer St, Suite C, Greenville (inside the Wayne Cancer Center). For more information, contact the organization by phone at 937-548-9960 or by email at [email protected].
Kathy Muhlenkamp from Dayton Physicians and Melissa Meyer, MS, CNS, APR, Radiation Oncology spoke to the group about the Wayne Cancer Center, 835 Sweitzer St., Greenville.
“People always say, ‘you treat so many people coming through your door,’ and I have to say, those people are living. They come in, the say hello, its wonderful and heartwarming,” said Muhlenkamp.
Wayne Cancer Center is a partnership between Premier Health, Dayton Physicians and Wayne HealthCare.
“We have served many patients. In 2015 alone, we gave 2,400 infusions with chemotherapy injections as well as greater than 2,300 radiation treatments,” said Meyer. “We are keeping people here locally so they don’t have to travel so far for their therapies, so we are proud of that.”
Meyer said the Center was excited about the new collaboration between Dayton Physicians and the world renowned cancer, research and treatment center MD Anderson in Houston, Texas.
“We now have access to their clinical trials and their expert physicians so that we can provide expert care right here at home,” said Meyer.
Survivors and those battling cancer were recognized with a vase with flowers donated from JAFE Decorating and Helen’s Flowers & Gifts. Each were given a ticket for a special drawing from Yes Deere Hair & Nails in Arcanum.
“We really wanted to give back to people who are actually fighting the fight,” said Amber from the salon.
Each year the salon donates prizes to the event, but this year they donated a day of pampering for eight people that will be held on May 14. Each winner will receive a catered lunch, a facial, a hands and arm exfoliating treatment, a gel polish manicure and a pampering pedicure.
Artz thanked Tina Sanders, Cathy Sink, Tanya Baker, Missy Pohl, Jenni Weaver, Kelly Fourman and Jodi Kenney, who planned, organized and sacrificed to pull the event together.
“Thank you for all your dedication,” said Artz.
