By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
They are on the road again. The 3rd Annual Geneva Cancer Run will take place on Saturday, June 14 in Geneva. Each rider pays $10 to participate.
Deeanne Randall lost her grandparents and many best friends to cancer over the years, so she came up with the idea of having a Geneva Motorcycle Run.
In the first year, 80 motorcycle riders participated, and this past year about 120 riders came out. The Cancer Run organizers are hoping to reach 200 riders this year.
If you don't have a motorcycle and want to participate you can drive your car.Deeanne teamed up with the Geneva Bar and Grill and Barb Kuckenbecker, who handles most of the promotion and donation collection. Deeanne’s daughter Bizzy is also helping collect donations this year.
"My favorite part is seeing the looks on people’s faces,” said Deeanne, “when we give them some of the funds to help them during difficult times. Recently I delivered a donation to a woman in Owatonna whom I waitressed with about 30 years ago." The woman had been worrying about how to pay for gas that week.
The proceeds from the Cancer Run will be divided between the Geneva Cancer Auction for research, and local families who are feeling the financial strain that comes with cancer treatments.
The Geneva Cancer Run is about 115 miles long, with registration starting at 10 a.m. at the Geneva Bar and Grill. The ride will get underway at 11 and most riders will return to Geneva about 4:30, in time for the live auction. The silent auction will get underway about 10:00 p.m. Donations for the auction have doubled over the previous years.
Family donations are given to area families in need. Anyone interested in nominating someone to receive donations can contact Deeanne at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
"We stay local,” says Deeanne. “Everyone holds hands and works together."
This year’s event will include a photo booth and live music, including 3-Lane and Bad Monkey.