‘A Night to Remember’

By Cameron Barnes
Reader Staff

Cindy Marx was beginning to walk up on the stage of the 2008 Community Cancer Services fundraiser event when she was met with a full-on standing ovation. At this point Marx realized the power of what she was going through to help get more support for those affected by this devastating disease. As a two-time cancer survivor she knows how tough life can be for cancer victims not only in the hospital, but also with the everyday life tasks we all take for granted.

According to the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Facts and Figures 2015, there were 1,658,370 new cases of cancer reported and 589,430 deaths in the United States from various forms of cancer during that year alone.

According to their website, the Community Cancer Services staff is “dedicated to providing information, as well as emotional and financial support, to members of our community that have been diagnosed with cancer. Through our programs we strive to improve both the comfort and quality of life for those diagnosed with cancer, and to educate the community on all aspects of cancer, from prevention to end of life issues.”

This year will mark the ninth annual CCS fundraising event, A Night to Remember, which was originally started by the Rotary Club of Ponderay. Since the founding of CCS in 2003, I’m told this event is the source of roughly half of the organizations financial stability. CCS is a huge source of hope to anyone diagnosed with cancer in Bonner or Boundary County. In addition to providing financial assistance for medical bills, CCS provides excellent help with the financial burdens of life outside of the hospital such as gasoline, groceries, as well as items to mask the effects of the disease and chemotherapy such as wigs and mastectomy bras and other prosthetics. They also are a very good resource for information, and can help filter through the madness of online research.

A Night to Remember will be held in the main building at the Bonner County Fairgrounds Nov. 5 from 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. The night will include wine tasting (provided by Pend d’Oreille Winery, Coeur d’Alene cellars, Small House and Clearwater Canyon), fine food, and a silent and loud auction. All proceeds will benefit cancer victims in our community.

Last year’s event hosted a well-received wine-pull event, in which for $20 you get to pull a cork to determine the bottle of wine one will receive. For the most part the majority of the bottles are worth around $20, but some can value over $100.

Individual tickets for the event begin at $80 and extend to $1,200 to sponsor a table for the event, which can be purchased through the CCS website, communitycancerservices.com or in person at the CCS office located at 1215 Michigan St Suite B. Sandpoint, ID 83864. If you are not able to attend the event but would like to help the cause, checks can be mailed to the address above.

For more information please call 208-255-8616 and ask for Stefanie.