LYLE – Next to the annual Independence Day celebration, this is the most important weekend in the lives of Lyle area residents.

Friday, January 21, 2000

LYLE – Next to the annual Independence Day celebration, this is the most important weekend in the lives of Lyle area residents.

Nothing stops the annual Lyle Area Cancer Auction.

Beginning at 6 tonight and continuing tomorrow at 11 a.m., the only action in Lyle will be that of the good folks crowded into American Legion Post No. 105, spending money to fight cancer.

"Your gifts make a difference" is the theme of the Friday and Saturday activities. Last year, the 20th annual auction raised $15,000 and the goal this year is to top that figure.

Gary Ziegler, co-chair of the activities, believes that can be done. Ziegler and co-chair Mary Witt say they have a full slate of fun to tempt auction visitors to spend their money.

"We’re going to have Todd Utpadel of the Snowy River Band and one of the auctioneers entertain," said Ziegler. "There will be cancer survivors there to tell their stories and some scientists from the Hormel Institute also will be present to talk about their cancer research."

This year, volunteers have solicited more items than ever before, thanks to the generosity of area businesses.

But, it is the one-of-a-kind items that attract the most attention and the most dollars.

Once again, Chuck Berg, the wood carver extraordinaire, will have an exclusive item for sale. Each year, Berg donates one of his wood-carving creations and each year it brings in the most money.

Lyle Preschool students are doing their part to help raise money. They will be selling home-made hearts for $5 each throughout the Friday night and Saturday activities.

Homemade soups and sandwiches and beverages will be sold throughout the weekend. According to Ziegler and Witt, the auction succeeds, in part, because of the generosity of the auctioneers who donate their time and talents to exhorting the auction-goers to spend money.

In addition to Utpadel, the list of auctioneers includes Mark Hunter, Mickey Brooks and Glenn Medgaarden, plus Tiny Johnson of Carpenter, Iowa, and Dick Allen of Albert Lea.

During a special two-hour period Saturday, auction old-timers will be honored. Ziegler and Witt have invited some long-time auction supporters and participants to attend and be recognized 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Bob Callier, director of the Fifth District Eagles Cancer Telethon, won’t be there. Callier will be in front of the cameras on KTTC Channel 10 in Rochester, introducing the amateur talent acts that perform, accepting checks on behalf of the Eagles and tally the monies raised, beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday and continuing until 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

The Fifth District Eagles Telethon raised $426,000 last year and the money was shared by the University of Minnesota, Mayo Hospital Cancer Research Unit and the Hormel Institute.

This year, Callier will be presenting a plaque to representatives of the Lyle Area Cancer Telethon for their long-time support of the fund-raiser.

"This is everyone’s telethon," Callier said. "Cancer touches everyone in some way."

Hormel Institute receives the least amount of the three recipients of the telethon monies, but this year it is doubling to $40,000 and that pleases Dr. Harald H.O. Schmid, professor and executive director.

"Cancer research at Hormel Institute has really taken off in recent years," Schmid said. "We are one of the beneficiaries of the Eagles Cancer Telethon and we appreciate the assistance we receive."

The research at Hormel Institute includes Dr. Zigang Dong’s section on the molecular mechanism of the development of cancer.

In addition, Dr. Zoltan Kiss and his section are researching alcoholism’s link to cancer.

Meanwhile, Dr. Margot Cleary’s section is researching obesity’s risk factor to breast cancer.

Their work, in small part, benefits from the generosity of the Lyle Area Cancer Telethon supporters and like, all other communities, Lyle knows cancer’s devastating impact.

A year ago, Sharon Kaput visited American Legion Post No. 105 to tell of her battle with cancer. Kaput died last year of cancer and so did her father, George.