Careaoke for a Cure touches Bend community
Throughout the month of November, members of the community have come together at Bend’s Silver Moon Brewing to fight cancer together and raise awareness.
Mark and Linda Quon are the co-founders of Careaoke for a Cure. The event started last year, but had been something the couple wanted to start for years.
In 2011, Mark was diagnosed with cancer. Through this, they felt the hardships people go through with the process and were helped by local American Cancer Society programs. It was this experience that spurred the inspiration for the event.
“Well, I think it’s really important for the community to have these programs to support people that are battling cancer,” Quon said Thursday. “And (many) don’t realize they exist ,so this event is about raising awareness and money — mainly awareness.”
Last year, the event raised $7,000, and all the proceeds went to the local programs that helped the Quons.
The programs include the American Cancer’s Society Road to Recovery, program where they help patients get to treatment if their caregivers can’t or if they don’t feel well enough to drive themselves.
There’s the Lodging Program, which reduces rates of hotel rooms for patients and families who are coming out of town for treatment.
The American Patient Navigator Program is strictly for families who go through the process for their loved one. The people through this program give the caregivers support.
The Look Good Feel Better Program is a way for women going through cancer to buy wigs or learn how to do make up after their body has gone through the changes from chemotherapy. Lastly, you can call 1-800-227-2345, 24/7 to ask questions of talk to someone who is part of ACS’s support system.
Lauren Olander is part of the American Cancer Society and is so happy to be part of the event and proud of how well it is doing.
“It’s been great! It’s a perfect example of a community coming together for a disease that every person has been touched by,” Olander said. “And everybody here at Silver Moon would say yes. So, this is event is a way for people to come celebrate and fight back in a positive way.”
The event is ran by volunteers who are cancer survivors. The music is provided by “Rockin’ Robin Karaoke,” and Silver Moon Brewery hosts the event, because the owners have been impacted by cancer as well.
Pam Balmuth is the marketing manager at Silver Moon. She says it’s been a wonderful experience not only for her staff, but everyone in the community.
“It’s been great! Super busy, the house is packed” Balmuth said, “The energy in here is amazing, everyone is in a great mood and people are telling their stoies.”
The finals are Friday night at 6 p.m. and it’s free for the community.
To learn more: http://www.silvermoonbrewing.com/care-aoke-cure/
