23rd annual Spring Fling raises more than $51,000 for the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life

PALMYRA, Mo. — The Flower Children team of the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) Relay For Life was the host of the 23rd annual Spring Fling on April 19. More than 300 people attended the event at the American Legion Hall Post 174 in Palmyra. The night’s activities were dinner, raffles, silent and live auctions.

The event raised more than $51,000 for the American Cancer Society. To date, the Flower Children have raised more than $1.5 million for ACS.

The theme for the night was “Hope Grows Where Communities Bloom” as the Flower Children teamed up with Blessing Health System to encourage everyone to get regularly scheduled cancer screenings. Those in attendance who have been getting their screenings were encouraged to enter in a raffle sponsored by Blessing Health System to win a $500 cash prize.

HATS Restaurant of Palmyra catered the dinner, with the live auction conducted by George Keller.

Local and regional merchants, along with several people, donated more than 250 items for both the live and silent auctions. Items ranged from tickets to sporting events such as NASCAR, the Kansas City Chiefs, St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals and the University of Missouri football to certificates for hotel packages, and Branson shows and bottles of Old Rip Van Winkle (Pappy’s) and Weller Single Barrel bourbon donated by Niemann Foods/County Market.

The auction also included household necessities, gift certificates for meals and services, auto care products, furniture, hand-crafted items and one-of-a-kind woodworking creations.

This year’s Spring Fling offered a chance to win a two-tone yellow and white gold with diamond twist necklace consisting of 30 diamonds valued at more than $1,550 which was donated once by Donna Heiser and Crescent Jewelry Company of Hannibal. Throughout the night, people could buy a raffle cup and place their name in the drawing. Those raffle cups could be filled with “special drinks” donated by El Nopal Mexican Restarant.

Spring Fling sponsors were:

• Vestis Laundry-table linens
• The American Cancer Society
• Lewis and Marion County Cattlemen and Ken Disselhorst;
• A&S Printing Service (Palmyra and Monroe City)
• Exchange Bank of NE Missouri
• Homebank
• Mercantile Bank
• Palmyra Spectator
• Palmyra Booster Club
• Knapheide Manufacturing
• Popp’n on Maine
• Refreshment Services Pepsi
• Muddy River News
• Iva’s Printing
• Nauser Beverage Company

Anyone who wants to make a contribution to The Flower Children and the ACS should contact Mark Bross at 573-769-2365 or visit www.relayforlife.org/marioncomo. Click the “Donate” icon at the top of the page. Enter “The Flower Children” in the “Search by participant or team” box, click search, click the link for “Team: The Flower Children” (Palmyra, MO), and follow the instructions to complete your donation.