By TRISTAN JENSEN
Editorial Assistant
Geneva Cancer Auction continued its work raising money for cancer research with the first weekend of its annual auction event January 6 and 7 at Geneva Bar and Grill. The auction is scheduled to continue January 13 at 7 p.m. and 14 at 2 p.m. In addition to the live auction, raffle tickets are being sold throughout the event, and the drawing will take place at 10 p.m. on Saturday, January 14 with a Grand Prize of $1,000. Sunday, January 15 the Geneva Cancer Auction committee will officially pledge their donation and announce the amount raised for 2023. Since its inception in 1985, the auction has raised over $2 million. “It was nothing when we started,” said Whitey Hagen, founder, “but people grabbed onto it and it's been like this ever since. It takes a lot of work by a lot of people who don't like cancer.”
Additional donations for the auction are currently needed, as the available stock sold out completely last Saturday. “No donation is too big or too small!! All donations are so appreciated!!” reads the call for donations on the Geneva Cancer Auction's Facebook page. Donations can be dropped off at Geneva Bar and Grill any time during the week, or donors can reach out to a member of the Geneva Cancer Auction committee or their Facebook page directly to make arrangements. While the Geneva Cancer Auction committees organize numerous fundraisers throughout the year – such as this past year's golf, beanbag, and pool tournaments, the wild game feed, pancake breakfast, and beer raffle – the live auction remains the largest yearly event and is completely supplied by donated items. Teams of volunteers travel to neighboring communities during the lead-up to the auction to collect donations from individuals and businesses. “It takes a mountain of people,” said Barb Kuchenbecker, one of the lead organizers for Geneva Cancer Auction.
From the beginning, the bar was packed to standing room only. A rotating cast of auctioneers, including Tracy Holland, Jim Mangus, Jamie Hagen, and Johnny Kraling, kept events moving at a fast pace – auctioning off 30-40 items each hour according to Kuchenbecker. Theresa Chapman, who has spent the last twelve years as director of the Eagles Cancer Telethon, spoke to the crowd mid-afternoon Saturday. “What you do here inspires not only your community, but is far reaching,” Chapman said, describing several instances of the impact of the Geneva Cancer Auction on fundraising efforts in other communities. Chapman also announced she will soon be retiring from her role as director. “It's been my pleasure to be director for the last twelve years, but I'm handing it over to a wonderful gentleman and I'm gonna volunteer from now on,” she told attendees. “Sometimes the volunteers are busier,” was a comment heard from aside, garnering laughter from committee members and volunteers throughout the crowd. Following Chapman's address, Hagen also spoke briefly, thanking everyone present for their contribution to the success of the auction, and through the auction, research into treatments and cures for cancer. “Every time they get a good cancer knock,” he emphasized, “you're a part of it.”