Their 50-year reunion wasn’t meant to be a fundraiser, but by the end of the event, the Elkhorn Area High School Class of 1974 had raised more than $2,500 to support cancer patients in southeastern Wisconsin.
“We originally made the reunion free for all to attend, and we had a donation box to help cover expenses,” explained Sue Wallem, Class of 1974 alumnus and reunion committee member. “But then one of our classmates, Tom Kunkle, gave a powerful speech about the importance of giving. He’s deeply involved in philanthropy and a phenomenal speaker. At the end of his speech, he pulled a $100 bill from his wallet and challenged everyone in the room to give what they could.”
Over the years, many members of the Class of 1974 have passed from cancer, while other classmates have witnessed firsthand the impact of the disease on their families and friends.
“When we first talked about where to give, we thought we’d donate to a national organization. But the more we talked about it, the more we realized it was important to help people in our area.”
The class decided to give to Aurora Health Care Foundation to help patients at the Aurora Cancer Care – Southern Lakes, Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic. The clinic treats patients from Walworth and western Racine counties.
“By donating to Aurora Health Care Foundation, we know exactly where our dollars are going – to support acupuncture and massage therapy, courtesy transportation for radiation treatments and complimentary head scarves for patients receiving chemotherapy,” shared Sue.
The complimentary scarves are part of the international Hope Scarves program, recently launched at the clinic. The scarves are collected from around the world along with stories from cancer survivors. The scarves and stories are paired together to spread hope to others in treatment.
"We have lost 27 of our classmates to cancer, and many of us have experienced the heartbreak of seeing loved ones battle the disease," said Sue. "This reunion was more than just a celebration; it was an opportunity to honor those we've lost while also making a lasting impact for those affected by cancer in our community."
How you can help
You can make a difference for patients and families in your community by making a gift today.