MEDORA — The annual HOPE Medora Goes Pink fundraiser dinner and dessert auction recently was held in the 237 Building at Medora Christian Church.
This year, $12,441 was raised during the auction, and the overall profit for the event amounted to $15,757.36. That total included the sale of tickets for the dinner and donations from individuals.
All proceeds from the auction are used for expenses related to the annual HOPE Medora Goes Pink cancer awareness event, which has been held on the second Saturday of October since 2010.
That event, set for Oct. 8 this year, includes a health fair, a car show, a 5K run/walk, live music, booths, a pink parade and more.
There were 286 orders for the dinner/auction Aug. 12. The event featured 24 tables decorated with different themes, including Irish and Western tables adorned with shamrocks and cowboy hats.
Larry Bennett and Roger Hurt conducted the auction, and Hurt also provided the sound system.
Co-founder Debi Wayman said the highest bid on a dessert this year was $1,500, and that went to Alexandria Drake of Medora.
Wayman said Drake brought $15 to the event, but all of the desserts were sold for more than that amount.
At the end of the auction, Hurt asked if everyone was able to win a dessert, and Drake was the only person left.
When Drake bid on the cake for $15, Wayman said Medora native Mike Reynolds decided to help out the organization and upped her bid to $1,500.
Drake took her cake to church a couple of days later and shared it with the congregation, Wayman said.
Spirit awards were given to Brenda Brown, Allan Wayman, Barb Lambert, Betty Cochrane, Mary Muster, Vicki Dean, Mitzie Davers, Pat Bahan, Lee Bahan, Abbi Christian, Bernice George, Jackie DeCrose, Chris Snodgrass, Bryan Powell, Alex McRoy, Mika McRoy and Betty Campbell.
HOPE Medora Goes Pink was started in 2009 by Wayman and her daughter, Deven Wayman-Shirley, to remember Debi’s mother, Helen Sipes. Sipes had recently died after the breast cancer she had had spread to other areas.
Over the years, the event has grown to provide support to anyone affected by any type of cancer, no matter where they might live.
Wayman works year-round to distribute funds in the form of $100 money orders or $50 JayC Food Store and $50 Circle K gift cards. Some funds are delivered personally, while others are mailed in a pink envelope with a pink love letter.
The organization has distributed $202,200 since it was founded.
Donations to HOPE Medora Goes Pink may be sent to P.O. Box 125, Medora, IN 47260.