Friends of Saint Francis gala exceeds goal

The Friends of Saint Francis are committed to caring for cancer and cardiac patients and have found a way to make it fun, thanks to the help of people like you. March 4 was the second consecutive Friends of Saint Francis Gala, and, again, it was a success.

The goal was to raise $125,000, but at press time, the fundraiser had already reported $178,000 — and they were still counting. This is great news for the CancerCare Patient Fund and CardiacCare Patient Fund, the organizations to which the money goes. According to Emily Blattel, Saint Francis Healthcare System’s marketing manager, all the funds go “directly to patients.”

Blattel also echoed what is posted on the Saint Francis Healthcare System website, sharing that the CancerCare Fund helps cancer patients with “nutritional supplements, medicine, transportation and lodging,” while “the CardiacCare Fund provides assistance with cardiac rehabilitation and other necessary services and equipment for patients unable to afford them.”

Not only did the event exceed expectations of money raised; it also sold out weeks prior to the event. About 330 people attended the gala. This speaks well of the efforts of the event planners, as well as the support of our community. We all want a cure, but in the meantime, we want care for those who are braving diseases. It’s refreshing to see people finding ways to make that happen.

The gala, held at the Isle Casino Event Center in Cape Girardeau, featured dinner, an open bar, live entertainment, dancing, a live auction and more. The Mike Renick Band provided the pre-entertainment, and Hello Weekend starred as the headline entertainment. However, the real stars are the patients who show us every day how to battle through difficult circumstances.

See the Southeast Missourian’s photographs of the gala here: www.semissourian.com/gallery/29588.