Goal for next year#039;s cancer telethon is set
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, February 11, 2003
LYLE -- This year, the Lyle Area Cancer Telethon will seek to raise $100,000 for the annual eagles Cancer Telethon fund-raiser.
That's right: $100,000.
"Do not doubt what we can do," said Gary Ziegler, one of the volunteers.
In 24 years, the annual fund-raiser, headquartered in Lyle, has raised $438,000 for the annual 5th District Eagles Cancer Telethon in January.
A month ago, the volunteers turned over a check for $92,500 to the telethon organizers. That was 14 percent more than 2002's final tally of $81,200.
An appreciation supper for the dozens of volunteers from northern Iowa and southern Minnesota was held Sunday night at Lyle American Legion Post No. 105, where the telethon's auction has been held for 22 of the 24 times each January.
Ziegler and his wife, Cindy, greeted the volunteers, including auctioneers and others, like family. Hugs and high-fives were plentiful and so was the food shared at the potluck supper.
One of the auctioneers, Dave Thompson, his wife, Beth and their two children were present. Thompson volunteered his time for the third straight auction. Among the items he hustled for the largest price was a jar of pickles, which sold for $285. "Then," he said, "they had another jar of pickles which went for $300. Can you imagine that?"
Each year, the Lyle Area Cancer Auction defies: 1) logic, 2) the economy and 3) one's imagination with another spectacular success.
Where once, the organizers relied strictly upon a Friday night and Saturday auction at Post No. 105, today they have multiple events held throughout the year to raise funds.
"It's so great to see our communities and the youths in those communities come together for something like this," said Cindy Ziegler. "It's going to keep on growing each year if we have anything to say about this."
The couple ticked off the receipts from eight fund-raising events held throughout the year.
A pool tournament at Carpenter, Iowa raised $18,000 and a Harley Davidson motorcycle raffle raised $16,230. Cash donations brought in another $12,141.
The auction itself raised $33,689.
"Everybody from all the area towns that helped can hold your heads up high," said Gary Ziegler. "Everybody should go into each and every one of those businesses that donated items for the auction and tell them 'Thanks'."
Bob Callier Sr., was moved to tears in expressing the 5th District Eagles' thanks for the fund-raising. Dick Brekke, Austin, a member of the telethon's board of directors, also expressed his appreciation.
"I wish I could bottle this and sell it. I could make a fortune," said Callier of the Lyle area team's enthusiasm.
Next year, when Lyle celebrates's its 25th silver anniversary telethon effort, the Eagles will observe the combined telethon's golden 50th anniversary.
The University of Minnesota, Mayo Clinic and the Hormel Institute cancer research units share in the proceeds.
According to Callier, the 49-year-old fund-raising project by the Eagles has raised $8,630,000 since it began.
Last year, Eagles nationwide raised $1.6 million for cancer research. The 5th District's own telethon raised $630,000 of the total, according to Callier.
Todd Utpadel, one of the volunteer auctioneers for the last five years, has auctioned the classic wood creations by Lyle resident Charlie Berg each year. This year, wood craftsman Berg created an 18-wheeler tractor-trailer rig that was a mirror-image of the one driven by Utpadel's father before his death due to cancer.
"It's just incredible," observed Utpadel. "We have a mighty successful auction of our own at Geneva each year, but this is something else. You can see the definition of 'small town' in something like this. What it showed me is if it's worth doing, people will get it done."
Larry and Cindy Ricke will take over some of the duties of the Lyle Area cancer telethon's organizers, the Zieglers.
Once again, there will be a year-long schedule of individual fund-raising projects leading up to the auction weekend at Post No. 105.
The date to remember is Jan. 15 and 17, 2004.
Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at
lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com