Mardi Gras event to raise money for Clark County cancer society

Springfield’s branch of the American Cancer Society will host its first celebrity luncheon in three years on Feb. 24 to raise money for the organization and its programs.

The Bourbon Street at the Buckeye event is a Mardi Gras themed luncheon will start at noon and is expected to raise between $3,000 to $5,000, according to Michele Hemphill, who has been part of Clark County’s cancer society leadership council for the past two years.

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Guests will be served Cajun-based cuisine and the celebrity waiters will include local judges, lawyers, business leaders and medical professionals.

The event will be held at the Buckeye Sports Lodge and tickets cost $35. For more information, including to purchase tickets, contact Hemphill at mhemphill@mercy.com. Celebrity waiters also will be selling tickets.

All proceeds from the event, including tips, will go to programs such as Road to Recovery and Look Good Feel Better, according to ACS Leadership Council member Rick Benning.

Both programs are sponsored by the cancer society and provide unique services to cancer patients.

“Look Good Feel Better is for breast cancer survivors or people in treatment,” Hemphill said. “It’s a group that helps with making you feel good about yourself because let’s face it — chemo and treatments, no matter what type it is, wreck you physically and mentally.”

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Money raised will also go to American Cancer Society research and other programs such as the Hope Lodge project, which gives cancer patients and their caregivers a free place to stay during treatments.

The luncheon will be roughly two hours and will also feature an auction that will include local art.

Springfield representatives of the cancer society plan on continuing the luncheon next year.

“I’m hoping, since we are bringing it back, we will get our feet wet this year again and next year it will be even bigger.” Hemphill said.

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