SHOW ME CAMELOT: AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY GALA

With a sword in a stone and a royal atmosphere, the Cape Girardeau County American Cancer Society Gala offered something for everyone Saturday while meeting life-and-death needs.

More than 300 attended the "Camelot" themed evening at the Show Me Center, where organizers anticipated raising approximately $45,000, said Mary-Ann Maloney, chairwoman for the gala. .

"We have many very giving people to keep this event alive," she said.

The large total was achieved thanks to a $18,600 donation from MidAmerica Hotels.

"It was really from our Burger Kings," said Tim Hahn, marketing director of MidAmerica Hotels Corp.

The company's 37 Burger King restaurants in four states sold Valentine coupon sheets for $1 each from the middle of January through February to raise their donation, Hahn said. Each gift sheet had six coupons featuring characters from the animated children's program "Rugrats" that were redeemable for food and drinks at Burger King.

Other fund raising activities included a silent auction at the gala, which had items for bid ranging from a kitchen sink to Lasik eye surgery valued at $3,500.

Commemorative glasses with champagne were also sold for $50, which gave each drinker a chance to be chosen to attempt to pull what appeared to be a sword from a replica stone and win a $2,500 diamond necklace.

Of all of the money raised, 60 percent will be used for local programs, said Leslie Herbst, spokeswoman for the American Cancer Society. The remainder goes to cancer research and national programs.

Local programs supported are numerous, and include the "We Can Weekend" camp for cancer patients and their families, breast prostheses, and a mobile classroom.

The value of the donations cannot be overestimated, Maloney said. One in three people's lives will be touched by cancer, either by contracting the illness or suffering with a sick loved one, she said.