Third graders at Lincoln Elementary spent a service day making 300 “In Memoriam Bracelets,” which are being sold with proceeds going to the Cancer Care Fund of Kosciusko County. The bracelets were available to purchase at the Power of Pink event Sunday, Oct. 30. Shown from left are bracelet makers Cora Reber, Penelope Baker, Finley Baker with teacher Shelly Beam. Photos by Deb Patterson.

By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews

LEESBURG — A champagne brunch and designer purse auction Sunday, Oct. 30, raised approximately $10,000 for the Cancer Care Fund of Kosciusko County.

The second Power of Pink event was held at Tippecanoe Country Club. The dining room was decorated in pink with the close to 100 guests arriving wearing various shades of pink.

Champagne was offered to each guest as they browsed through the 15 silent auction items ranging from jewelry from the designer purse makers, gift baskets, laptop or tablet bags and much more.

Following a lunch, a live auction of 19 designer purses was held with Rob Parker, Kosciusko Chamber executive director, as the auctioneer. Modeling the purses and some of the accessories were members of the Warsaw and Wawasee football teams: Bryce Duncan, Brody Duncan, Ian Nichols, Nathan Harper and Hunter Miller.

Jacqui Joyner and Emma Hoyle take a look at the designer purses that were auctioned.

The auction was tense for several of the purses with last-minute bidders jumping in. The live auction raised close to $4,400, while the silent auction raised close to $2,000. The remaining amount was raised through various other opportunities available.

Guests also had the opportunity to purchase gourmet coffee, the live floral centerpieces or the purse giving tree.

One special opportunity was the purchase of “In Memoriam Bracelets.” These bracelets were made as a service day project by Lincoln Elementary third grade students. Approximately 300 bracelets were made and had a special meaning for student Cora Reber, who lost her mother to cancer, and Shelly Beam, teacher, who has had a family member deal with cancer.

Julee Rouch, one of the organizers of the event, briefly stated that the money raised through the day’s event would be staying locally and helping those going through cancer treatment. “You never know when cancer will touch your life. There’s a fund available if you need it.”

To date the fund has provided $109,960 to county residents battling cancer to help with mortgage payments, rent, medications, insurance, vehicle payments and more. The fund is overseen by the K21 Foundation.