In a heartfelt gathering at the Hotel Wolf last week, supporters involved with the recent 2013 Cancer Walk gave thanks for money raised and contributed toward a once-and-for-all cure for cancer.
Money raised from walk participants and sponsors was announced at the gathering Thursday evening, and a donation of $4,200 from the Saratoga Lions Club was also presented by member Tim Lamprecht. The contributory check was given to SHS Football Coach Scott Bokelman, who organized July’s cancer walk with the help of students Peyten Fisher, Heather Oxford, Cruz Escobedo and Katie Loose.
Also in attendance were family members and friends who created and participated in the walking team known as “Team Diana,” dedicated to Diana Raymer of Saratoga, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer earlier this year. Diana was also able to attend the gathering at the Wolf, surrounded by love and support from family.
The 2013 Cancer Walk took place at the Saratoga Golf Course July 6, and was sponsored by both Saratoga Middle/High School and SkillsUSA, a nationwide-based career and technical student organization. Proceeds from money donated, or from those who participated, go toward the Dallas, Texas-based Susan G. Komen Foundation breast cancer organization.
“This year when we counted up the cash box at the end of the walk we had a $2,000 profit in there, and we got 23 sponsors of $100 apiece,” Bokelman said. “That’s $4,300 there, and because Tim had a check donated to us for $4,200, we’re looking at $8,500. Then we take out the cost of T-shirts, signs and other costs for running the walk, which is about $1,000, so we’re looking at somewhere around between $7,000 and $7,500 that we’re going to donate this year. That’s more than six times what we had last year.”
Bokelman thanked Lamprecht and his four student helpers, Fisher, Oxford, Escobedo and Loose, for contributing their time and energy into organizing the Cancer Walk and the steps leading up to it.
“The girls did a fantastic job,” he said. “I’d like to get more kids to volunteer their time and help out with things where they’re not getting anything back, and just coming to help out.”
Randy Raymer, Diana’s husband, said he appreciated everything that everyone had done for his family, and the thoughtfulness contributors had toward finding a cancer cure.
“We’ve all known people who had cancer, but until it strikes your family you don’t realize all the heartache and drama it brings to your household and your family,” he said. “But the pleasure comes when things start to work out for you, or you participate in something like the cancer walk and see your friends, neighbors and business associates turn out to support people like that. I hope that no one else has to go through what Diana has gone through, and I’d like to take the opportunity to thank all of our friends, family, business associates and the Lions Club for doing what they did to help our family.”
Lamprecht agreed that Diana and her family were worthy of help after all they had done for the community.
“Diana and the Raymer family have been instrumental in everything done around here in the Valley, and when she was diagnosed with cancer in January, we just decided this is a good time get behind this cancer walk and create a Team Diana,” he said. “We contacted local Lions members and businesspeople, and we just all gave our hearts for her. She’s been through a lot for seven months, and we just wanted to show our support and love. We also hope that our example will inspire more people to do things like this for other people in need.”
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