Cancer-fighting advocates sing for a cure in Bend

It was a sing off for a good cause. Friday was the final night of “Careaoke for a Cure” at Bend’s Silver Moon Brewing.

The karaoke event is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society and the Relay for Life Bend chapter. Eighty contestants have been singing off against each other for the last few weeks and Friday was the finals, featuring the top 20 karaoke stars.

Cancer survivor Mark Quon has organized the fundraiser for Bend’s Relay for Life the last few years. But this year, he wanted to do something bigger.

“It’s about awareness and getting the community involved,” Quon said.

The room was full of people affected by cancer.

“We have many people battling cancer, many cancer survivors, we have a few people in the room that are currently going through treatment and we have people in the room who just found out today that loved ones were diagnosed,” said Lauren Olander, American Cancer Society senior community manager.

Relay for Life partnered with Silver Moon Brewing and Rockin’ Robbin Karaoke to put on the event.

“It’s a great cause, I don’t know of anybody that doesn’t have it in their family,” said Robin VanHorn, survivor and owner of Rockin’ Robin Karaoke.

All entry and door fees were donated to the American Cancer Society in hopes of finding a cure.

In addition to supporting a cause, the event provided cancer survivors with another support system.

“I am a cancer survivor,” Olander said, “and it’s not necessarily a group I would have applied to be in. But once you’re in, there’s some great people you meet, and it’s a huge support network.”

For more information, visit www.relaybend.org