Edna Donovan, captain of the Iola Sisters Relay For Life team, picks up a penny when she sees it on the ground. Because you never know.
That penny might make a difference. It might be the last cent needed to fund research that will lead to a cure for cancer. It might be the last cent needed to pay for a stay at Hope Lodge, a facility offered by the American Cancer Society to house cancer patients and caregivers as they seek treatment.
Raising money for cancer research stays at the top of Donovans mind in just about everything she does. Cancer has ravaged her family and shes determined to help find a cure.
Its been my passion, she said. Thats why I walk. Thats why Im here.
Her team, the Iola Sisters, has raised the most money for the Allen County Relay For Life for several years. When this years event starts at noon today and concludes at midnight, the Iola Sisters likely will lead the pack in donations. Typically, five or six members of the 20-person team raise at least $1,000.
As of Friday, the team had collected $12,050. But that doesnt include the 50 luminaries her nieces and nephews sold in Missouri, or the $200 her daughter collected along with another $200 match expected from her employer. It also doesnt include the pennies Edna may pick up along the way.
A water bottle will hold $100 worth of dimes, she said, offering a tidbit of trivia. Throughout the year she drops the coins in spare bottles.
She challenges servers at Rookies Sports Bar & Grill to see whos the best at convincing customers to add a $1 donation to Relay For Life when they pay the bill. The winner gets a pizza party or steak dinner. One year, Rookies employees collected $152 from those $1 donations.
Last Saturday, during Memorial Day weekend, the family organized a Boot Block in downtown Iola, asking motorists for donations as they were stopped at a red light along U.S. 54s downtown intersections. They collected nearly $1,500.
Family members sell arts and crafts projects to raise money for Relay For Life. They collect aluminum cans. They hand-deliver letters to local businesses, requesting donations.
We try to keep it going all year long, Donovan said.
Todays event will be like a family reunion. It brings all of us together and we have a good time.
DONOVAN planned to scale back involvement this year. She and her husband, Dave, arent as physically capable now of the effort needed to match previous years.
We really work to get it, Donovan said.
She set a goal to raise $8,000 this year.
But that competitive tradition is a little difficult to avoid. For example, her pastor teased that his team was putting in a strong effort this year and were coming to get you, Edna.
But as of Friday, no other team came close to the Iola Sisters. Theyve got about a $10,000 lead on the next closest team.
A little healthy competition puts the fun in fundraising. But the competitiveness is not the true purpose, Dave Donovan added.
