Breast Cancer Week

It is Making Strides Against Breast Cancer week at CV. I am coordinating the event for the third year. This year we added some new features to increase our donation to the American Cancer Society. Members of our Red Hat group and other resort residents brought products from their home states to create 'state baskets' for a raffle and auction.

On Wednesday afternoon 200 residents gathered at a social to bid on the auction items. First was the sealed bid auction. There were donated works of art ranging from jewelry, quilted or sewn articles, a decorated gourd, a hand crafted wooden bowl, and several state baskets. I bid $101 on the decorated gourd and did not get it so you get the idea of the kind of dollars items may have brought. Here is the gourd I did not get.

After the sealed bids were opened and winners announced, the live auction on another 10 or 12 items began. Here is a look at the baskets ready for bidding.

The baskets were arranged and wrapped beautifully, thanks to Mary of Watertown, Debra, Shirley & Cathy. Awesome work ladies!


The South Dakota basket made the live auction. Three of us brought SD products. There were two bottles of Bad Ass Rhubarb wine from Prairie Berry Winery, a bottle of Old West BBQ sauce from Mellette, chokecherry jelly from Milbank, dip & seasonings from Pierre, sunflower seeds from Mound City, salt water taffy from the Hills, chocolate covered toffee from Mobridge, a Terry Redlin print from Watertown, some other items and a large number of items donated by the Mt. Rushmore gift shop, including fudge. Here is the SD basket:

 I am pleased and honored to announce the SD basket got a winning bid of $380; the highest bid item at the auction. We are so pleased & proud. It was bought by friends from CA who are sending it to his brother & wife, both of whom have been diagnosed with cancer. Thank You Don & Nancy!

These were our auctioneers. They helped add some hilarity to the event. Chuck P, the guy in the middle wore this T-shirt

and donated another $78 for ACS by allowing squeezes and a final sale of his fake boobies. All for a good cause.

I didn't get the gourd, but Curt bid on the basket from CA. He is writing the check for the basket of wine and other wonderful goodies! Thank You Linda & Marge!

Marge and her right hand helper Linda, chaired this event for our cancer week. Their hours of planning and hard work brought in $3100 for ACS! Great job ladies! The afternoon was a huge success and you are responsible for it. THANK YOU!