Mike WIlson, Tracy Wilson, Tony Ciriello, Denise Good and Jon Good dance to “YMCA” after their table raised the most money. Photos by Deb Patterson

By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews

NORTH WEBSTER — The second annual Dueling Against Cancer, at The Owl’s Nest, was just as fun as the first. There was laughter, clapping to the beat of music, waving arms and plenty of smiles Friday evening, May 20. All eras and genres of music were played, including several creative ways to raise money for the Cancer Care Fund of Kosciusko County.

While the dueling pianists, Paul Bickel and Dave Caruso, were the same, the evening was anything but a repeat of last year’s event.

Approximately 150 people attended the high-energy dueling piano war between Bickel and Caruso. Not only did the pair duel it out, so did the audience.

Jim and Barbara Klotz talk with Sandy Green at the Dueling Against Cancer event Friday, May 20.

Two highly competitive duels took place during the night: the college “fight song” and a table competition. During the fight song competition, donations were received to have songs played from LSU, Notre Dame, Purdue, Indiana University, Tri-State and Michigan. The competition was fierce between LSU and Notre Dame fans, with LSU fans reaching deep in their pockets and raising $410 at the last minute to have their song as the winner. Notre Dame fans came in second, raising $380.

The table competition was fiercer going down to the wire between the Griggs table and the Ciriello table. With a last minute push the Ciriello table donated $870, with the Griggs table coming In with $680. The third place table was that of Pro Wake, raising $335. Guests at the winning table were brought up front for a special song and a little dancing in front of the crowd.

But the evening wasn’t over. A live auction of 13 items had a few battles of its own. While the items ranged from a swim pad, to a lamp and a $500 gift card, the John Deere Gator and some John Deere toys, and a wine/bourbon basket kept people on their toes. The gator ended up selling for $4,100, while the wine/bourbon basket sold for $7,500. Another live auction item that brought attention was a round of golf for four at a prestigious country club, which sold for $4,250.

The night ended with Bickel and Caruso playing dance music, with a number of couples hitting the dance floor.

According to event organizers the evening raised over $40,000 for the Cancer Care Fund. The auction itself brought in over $26,500.

Brianna Hartman and Laura Schrek check out the live auction items at the Dueling Against Cancer event to raise funds for the Cancer Care Fund of Kosciusko County.

There are still more opportunities to donate to the CCF of Kosciusko County.

A glow golf fundraiser will be held Friday, June 17, at Maxwelton Golf Club, Syracuse. The shotgun start is at 7:30 p.m. The evening will include a night of golf, live music and more fun.

The annual CCF golf outing will be held Monday, Sept. 12, at Stonehenge, Winona Lake, and the Freaky 5K Family Halloween Run/Walk, Thursday, Oct. 20.

The final event will be The Power of Pink champagne brunch at 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, at Tippecanoe Lake Country Club. This will feature a designer purse auction.

More information or to register for any of the events can be found at cancercarefundkc.org.

Paul Bickel, left, and Dave Caruso, right, returned for the second annual Dueling Against Cancer charity event Friday, May 20. The duo competed against each other on the piano, along with a trumpet and piano harmonica, while they engaged the crowd to participate and raise funds for the Cancer Care Fund of Kosciusko County.