VIDEO: 47 teams take part in area Relay for Life

Meadville Tribune

June 24, 2008 12:08 pm

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By Keith Gushard
Meadville Tribune
HAYFIELD TOWNSHIP — Darcie Luikart says she’s been doing it for three years in memory of the giving spirit of her late friend, Kathy Hasenkopf.
Luikart, 16, captains “Kathy’s Angels” one of the 47 teams in this year’s Meadville area Relay for Life, a 24-hour walk-athon to benefit the American Cancer Society. The 14th annual event is being through 1 p.m. today at the Pioneer Steam and Gas Engine Society grounds off Route 198 west of Saegertown.
She was just 13 when she started the team in 2005 to honor family friend, Kathy Hasenkopf, who was battling cancer at the time. Hasenkopf succumb to cancer in 2006 at age 61.
“She cared for people so much,” Luikart said of why she started the team. “I loved working with her with Charity Bears and all the charity stuff she did.”
Mrs. Hasenkopf was a partner in with her daughter, Jill Hasenkopf-Miller, in Charity Bear Co. of Saegertown, a business that designs and sells fund-raiser teddy bears themed around diseases and medical conditions. It primarily raises money for medical research and awareness of life-threatening illnesses.
Mrs. Hasenkopf volunteered with the American Cancer Society, National Kidney Foundation of the Alleghenies and other organizations.
“She helped me out a lot,” Luikart said of how she learned to deal both with people and business.
Luikart’s parents, Don and Lisa Luikart, were involved with a team for Hasenkopf when Darcie said she’d like to start her own team to honor her.
“They were very supportive,” Darcie said. “I was young and I thought it would be easy. But there’s a lot of work that goes into it for fund-raising.”
That means organizing different fund-raisers during the year, fund-raising during the Relay for Life as well as recruiting team members, she said.
“Kathy’s Angels” team is hoping to raise $2,000 this weekend for the American Cancer Society, Luikart said.
That number is part of an overall goal of $155,000 for the annual Relay for Life, according to Deb Smith and Collene Munn, who are co-chair the event. That’s $3,000 more than the 2007 event, they said.
Some $89,000 had been raised Saturday by the time the event started at 1 p.m. with the additional money to come from fund-raising during the Relay for Life itself.
The additional money will come from fund-raising by teams during the Relay such as games or the sale of refreshments; and the sale of luminarias during the event.
The luminarias are purchased in honor of a cancer patient or in memory of someone who died of cancer.
Last year, there were 1,287 luminarias at the Relay for Life with a total of $12,918 raised.
Tiki torches also may be purchased for a donation of $30 and lanterns for a donation of $50.
The $89,000 puts the collective total for all 14 of the Meadville area Relays for Life at more than $1 million, Munn said.
Munn said 70 percent of the money raised by Relay for Life stays in Crawford County for patient services; 28 percent goes for cancer research; and 2 percent goes for administration.
Patient services includes transportation services for patients and various cancer support programs for both women and men, Munn said.

Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.


You can help
Tax deductible donations to the Relay for Life may be to the American Cancer Society. Make checks payable to: American Cancer Society with “Relay for Life” on the memo line and send to American Cancer Society, 464 Pine St., Meadville, Pa., 16335.

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