BP ‘Pink’ event ready for 18th annual weekend
Published 8:21 am Thursday, September 6, 2018
- The pink flags present every year for Paint Blooming Prairie Pink are backlit by the sun. Photos provided by Deb Harvey
Hundreds of items up for bid in silent auction
A Paint Blooming Prairie Pink event — one of the area’s larger fundraisers to fight cancer — marks its 18th year Friday and Saturday with its annual Blooming Prairie Cancer Auction, held under a big tent outside the Cue Company in Blooming Prairie.
The live auction, spanning two nights, features hundreds of items. This year, you’ll even find a pin flag from the 2017 British Open, signed by Jordan Spieth.
Last year, $67,000 was raised, said Cheri Krejci, one of the organizers. Still, a goal is never formally set, she said.
“Whatever we get, we’re good with,” she said.
The cancer auction begins Friday at 7 p.m. Gail Dennison of the Hormel Cancer Institute will offer some thoughts as part of the kick-off.
Cheri Krecji speaks during a past auction during Paint Blooming Prairie Pink.
On Saturday, the 5K “Running Over Cancer” run starts with same-day registration at 9 a.m., with the race beginning at 10 a.m., at the Field of Flags. The array of pink flags represents another fundraiser that is part of the weekend.
Each one has been “bought” as a donation and prior to the weekend, all had been purchased, Krejci said. The flags stand until Sept. 10, in tribute to those who have battled cancer.
A “Cut for the Cure” from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. offers $5 hair cuts and other fun items; and bingo will provide fun for the family from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Stix of Fury will provide entertainment at 6:30 p.m., followed by the second round of the live auction, beginning at 7 p.m.
Krejci said two fun additions to the weekend are a donation by lemonade stand kids on Friday night; on Saturday night, teenager Madelaine Stoen, a cancer survivor, will mark her 10th year of being cancer-free by donating 10 inches of her hair to Locks of Love.
The annual auction raffle will be held this year in memory of Steve Prihoda. The drawing will be held at 10 p.m. and offers up a $1,000 first prize, $300 second prize and $200 third prize.
The auction, sponsored by the Blooming Prairie Cancer Group, is always fun, Krejci said.
“Come, enjoy; there will be lots of food and drink; and we have over 100 items on the auction each night,” she said.
