The Leelanau Cancer Foundation (LCCF) is set to host “A Gala of Grace: Compassion for Families with Cancer” on June 26 at French Valley Winery to raise funds for families and individuals grappling with the emotional, physical, and financial challenges of cancer.
LCCF Board Chair Terry Gremel said the gala is a change from the nonprofit’s normal annual fundraising event, La-Tea-Da High Tea, and is hoping this new event reaches more people.
“We’ve never done a gala before, for years we’ve done the La-Tea-Da High Tea in June… so we decided that we’d do something inclusive of many people — couples, singles — for more of a community event,” Gremel said.
The nonprofit is led by a volunteer board of directors and helps to provide financial support to those battling cancer using donations from the community, fundraisers, and with monies obtained through the grants it receives. According to LCCF, the organization has paid more than a quarter million dollars to 135 county families since 2016. Those with cancer have ranged in age from 8 to 92.
“Our mission has always been the same, and that is to ease the burden of a cancer diagnosis for families in Leelanau County who are walking that journey,” she said. “There are two requirements to be eligible for that money: You have to have cancer and you have to live in Leelanau County.”
Gremel, who worked in oncology for 35 years, including 17 years as a clinical nurse specialist at Munson, also facilitates a monthly cancer support group for Leelanau County residents. She said every year the foundation does help more people, but part of that process is making sure they get the word out and that the public knows this is available to them.
“There are lots of people that have cancer that never find out about us even though the information is out there and in doctor offices and that kind of thing,” she said. “Sometimes those kinds of things aren’t thought about in the crisis of being diagnosed with cancer.”
LCCF helps pay the expenses of day-to-day living for those facing a cancer diagnosis — from covering rent and mortgage payments, pet care, and utility bills, to groceries, gas, and other routine expenses.
“It’s hard for people to ask for help… I talk with the family about what they actually need so it’s not like a rubber stamp that we’re going to do a certain thing for everybody, but we try to find out what their biggest needs are,” she said.
At the gala fundraiser, Lake Leelanau’s Island Thyme Catering is providing heavy hors d’oeuvres like local cheeses, assorted charcuterie foods (grapes, berries, citrus, white bean, and rosemary dip with hummus and cherry tomatoes), and more. There will also be dishes like a smoked chicken appetizer, asparagus fried ravioli, sweet potato and black bean empanadas, lamb meatballs, and smoked fish pate.
Musical entertainment by the group North Coast Trio featuring vocalist Sara Hartley will be at the gala, and a captivating live and silent auction for participants to jump in on is scheduled. People can expect to bid in the silent auction on things like “four hours of housekeeping,” cookie of the month, tickets to The Bay Theatre, and gift baskets from the Pennington Collection, Cherry Republic, and Good Samaritans. The live auction will feature bids for a one hour plane ride over Leelanau County for three people, a four hour family fun package from TC kayak and hydrobike rental, seven nights in a Leelanau County VRBO, two pontoon rides, a golf game for four people, and a full interior and exterior car detailing from Rev Auto in Traverse City, among many other things.
Tickets are $75 and can be purchased online at leelanaucountycancerfoundation. org or through MyNorth Tickets mynorthtickets.com/ events/a-gala-of-grace-compassion- for-families-with-cancer- 6-26-2024. For more information about the foundation, people can reach Gremel at 231-645-2120.
