By By JOHN EBY / Niles Daily Star
CASSOPOLIS - Cass County's 10th annual Relay for Life raised $88,000 by closing ceremonies.
The overnight American Cancer Society fundraiser at the fairgrounds took place from Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoon.
Before turning over the reins to Cathy Merrill of Dowagiac Area Federal Credit Union (DAFCU), 2005-06 Chair Bobbi Lowe accepted her gift - an inscribed luminary bag candle holder.
Lowe reported that the top teams during the 24-hour event included Midwest Energy Cooperative of Cassopolis, $6,004.25, which didn't turn any money in at Bank Night Wednesday at DAFCU; Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital of Dowagiac, $1,747.80; and Penn Friends Church of Cassopolis, $1,567.
Leaders at Bank Night were: Lewis Cass Intermediate School District, $3,333.25; Dowagiac Union Schools, $3,113.91; and Felpausch Food Center of Dowagiac, $3,095.21.
Top sponsor dollar totals went to DAFCU, with more than $5,200; the Code Runners, $3,000; and Wolverine Mutual Insurance Co. of Dowagiac, $2,050.
Still to come Saturday evening was the Cassopolis FFA “Barnyard Bash” demolition derby.
State Rep. Rick Shaffer, R-Three Rivers, who went to the Legislature from a background of a registered nurse who worked with hospice and home care for many years, said, “I certainly value the volunteerism I've seen here this afternoon.”
Former village president Julia Bell said, “I know cancer first-hand. I lost my husband in 1998. I lost a brother in 2000. And I have a sister here who is fighting this dreaded disease for all it's worth. She's such an inspiration. Cancer is said to more likely hit the older generation, but look around. As you see, cancer knows no age.”
Bell said, “Those people I cared for have become my extended family. I am also a member of the Hospice advisory board of southwestern Michigan. This is a wonderful organization if you ever need it. There's no charge for those services, so don't hesitate to call.”