'Destination: Cure' is the theme for annual cancer gala on Saturday

The 30th annual American Cancer Society Gala will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8.

"Destination: Cure" is this year's theme, and the event will take place in a fitting location: one of the hangars at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport.

The annual event will include food, beverages, entertainment and more, according to gala co-chair Amanda Bartlett. A collection of fast jets and luxury cars also will be on display at the gala.

"The ticket price includes various food stations and complimentary beer and wine," Bartlett says. "There will also be a cash bar and a for-purchase upscale wine bar if (guests) would like to purchase a particular bottle of wine."

There will be both a live and silent auction at the gala, as well as dance music by St. Louis-based Groovethang, which bills itself as "the ultimate party band."

Jeff Maurer places a bid on a framed photograph of the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge by Dr. David Crowe, as he and Lauren Jones look over silent auction items at the American Cancer Society's "A Cure for Cape" Gala on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, at the Isle Casino Event Center in Cape Girardeau.Fred Lynch

Entertainment also will be provided by Jackson native Marvelless Mark Kamp, an award-winning Las Vegas motivational speaker, entertainer and author.

As always, the attire for the event is semiformal to formal, according to Bartlett.

"Black tie is optional," she says. "Several men may choose to wear tuxedos, and many will probably opt for suits. Most women generally wear long, formal gowns."

The auction will feature items such as jewelry, furniture and vacations, Bartlett says.

"We will have multiple jewelry pieces, including a 1-carat rose gold diamond necklace, a white leather sectional sofa, several packages -- including a girls' package with a Vegas condo stay, show tickets and spa package -- as well as lodging in beautiful Colorado, and several sports packages, including Blues and Cardinals tickets, and much more," Bartlett says.

Dan and Jaimi Grimm dance to music by The Intention at the American Cancer Society s A Cure for Cape Gala on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014, at Isle Casino Cape Girardeau.Fred Lynch

The fundraising event draws a large crowd to support a worthy cause.

"Last year, more than 350 people attended," Bartlett says. "And we raised over $145,000. ... This year, our goal is $160,000."

The American Cancer Society is the largest private not-for-profit funder of cancer research in the United States, investing more than $4 billion since 1946.

Bartlett's extended family was touched by cancer shortly after she became involved with the fundraising gala.

"I got involved with the gala kind of on a fluke as my husband, Rob, had a conversation with Victoria (Moon, who has co-chaired the event for the past several years), and he kind of volunteered me," says Bartlett, adding this is her fourth year to serve on the gala committee and her first year to co-chair the event.

"In August 2013, I worked on the gala for the first time, and in May 2014, my father-in-law, Randy, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer," she says.

Randy Bartlett passed away one week after his cancer diagnosis.

"It made me feel like there was a reason that I had been called to serve on this committee," says Bartlett. "(It gave me) a way to help fight this disease."

Tickets for the 30th annual American Cancer Society Gala are $125 per person and may be purchased online at www.thecancergala.org or by calling the local American Cancer Society office at (573) 334-9352.