Geneva Cancer run June 11
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
Pray for a beautiful day!
Saturday, June 11 marks the fifth year the Geneva Cancer Run will be held. This year the ride will be held in memory of Sue Anderson and Emil “Dude” Arndt.
The Geneva Bar & Grill generously serves as a hub for the many activities, with other sponsors sharing in the goodwill tour: Sorenson’s Appliance, Cabella’s, Wenger’s, Johnson Tree Service, KJ Construction, Bixby Mills, Hormel Foods, Mrs. Gerry’s, Vandal’s Supervalue, Cody Carlson, Pub 112, and Martha Vrieze of Thrivent Financial.
The Cancer run invites people to come and see the country with their friends and neighbors. No motorcycle? No problem. Vehicles are welcome or you can ride the short bus from Pub 112 in Abert Lea.
The day will be a fun experience while one is also fighting cancer as they have collected funds which will help local cancer patients, as well as go toward the Geneva Cancer Auction research donation.
Registration is from 9 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. Saturday, June 11 at Geneva Bar & Grill. A $10 fee is requested for all the events, which includes the ride.
The cancer run will get underway at 11 and it will take those participating on quite a ride throughout Southern Minnesota. There will be a great deal for the bikers to see during the 130-mile ride. There will also be many opportunities to communicate with all the people along the way.
Eight-year-old Connor Weckwerth, who has brain cancer, will be riding on the Geneva Fire Department’s “pumper” as they help lead the bikers out of town.
The route changes each year. The first stop this year will be at Mama D’s at Racine, where dinner will be available for a free-will donation.
The bikers”will then head to Wykoff, Spring Valley, and Brownsdale, before they return to Geneva. An evening meal, which will include sloppy joes and chips, will be available at Geneva Bar & Grill, starting at 5, for a free-will donation.
Thrivent Financial has again donated the use of a 50 x 75-foot tent, which will be set up in the parking lot at the bar & grill, the site of all the action once the riders return to Geneva.
Can’t make the ride? The “motorcycle pack” plans to be back in Geneva by 4:30 and you can join them and connect with your friends and all the fun activities. A $5 donation toward the cause will be required, which provides a wristband for entrance to the tent.
The 2016 Geneva Cancer Run T-Shirts are black in color this year and will be available for sale. This year’s theme, “If someone you love has felt cancer, come and ride,” will be displayed on the front, and special recognition, “In memory of Sue Anderson and Emil ‘Dude’ Arndt,” will be displayed on the back.
There will be a live and silent auction, raffles, and live music. DeeAnn Randall said they have again received a great collection of donations for both auctions. People may place their bids on the silent auction items throughout the day, and the live auction will get underway about 5. Jamie Hagen, Jesse Quam and Alex Beenken are scheduled to serve as auctioneers.
Donations of cash or auction items can be dropped off at Geneva Bar & Grill.
Once the auctions have been completed about 7 on Saturday night, “Rush Hour” will begin their performance and “Ripdoozers” will take over at 9.
If you want to spend the night in Geneva, arrangements have been made to allow people to pitch their tent, or park their camper or motorhome in the Geneva City Park.
Last year’s Geneva Cancer Run helped provide funds for 18 families dealing with cancer, as well as donated $2,000 to the Geneva Cancer Auction. The Geneva Cancer Run committee hopes they can do the same again this year. Every little bit helps.