Something Special, Part 2

This past Saturday night, my wife and I volunteered for the American Cancer Society's Cattle Baron's Ball. This is an event that is very special to us. My wife used to run this event, and of course being a two time cancer survivor makes it that much more important. This event is one of the premier fund raising efforts for the ACS. Tickets this year were going for $350 a seat (more for VIPs). This included dinner, dancing, live music, and the opportunity to bid in the live and silent auction.
This is the fourth year in a row that we have worked at this event, but one moment from this event stands out from the others. The highlight of the night came at the conclusion of the live auction. At this time, a young boy took the stage and told his story about how he beat cancer, and his friend that was not so lucky. When he finished telling his story, the auctioneer began to ask for donations for the R.O.C.K. camp and R.O.C.K. weekend. These are programs that we have been involved in for more than five years.
As the auctioneer began to ask for $1000 donations (the price to send one child to camp for a week), one by one people began to stand, approach the stage and make their $1,000 donations. In less than 10 minutes, $43,000 was raised.
That is 43 kids with cancer will get to spend a week being just a kid. 43 kids who will have an experience that they will never forget. 43 kids who will get to laugh and cry with others kids going through the same thing that they are.
Despite all the talk about how terrible the economy is, the people at this event stepped up big time. In fact, they raised $15,000 more for the R.O.C.K. programs than last year. Way to go community....way to go!