Mark your calendars for a fun-filled, fund-raising evening Thursday, Jan. 27 to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and honor a special little boy who’s no longer with us.
Benefit donations of $40 for a 7 p.m. buffet dinner and show, featuring comedian Jason Douglas, will be held at Kalloway’s Restaurant and Pub in Oxford.
Hosted by Oxford residents Kim Novack and Anne Roop, the evening will consist of a buffet dinner and comedy show, featuring the humor of Jason Douglas, at Kalloway’s Restaraunt and Pub in Oxford.
Tickets are $40 each for dinner and show, or $20 each for just the show. A 50/50 raffle, silent auction, and door prizes will round out the event.
Novack and Roop are raising contributions to run in a 13-mile marathon benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
The comedy show is the first in a series of fund-raisers the ladies will hold in order to meet sponsorship requirements to participate in the April 2005 Country Music (half) Marathon in Nashville, Tennessee.
The pair were inspired to join the race against these devastating diseases by the tough spirit of young Dakota Unger, a 5-year-old Oxford boy who lost his year-long battle with leukemia in July 2004.
‘We are doing this in honor of Dakota,? said Roop, owner of Little Scholars Preschool of Oxford, who grew attached of the little trooper when he attended her school.
Roop said Dakota remained a fighter throughout his chemotherapy and bone marrow treatments, maintaining enough strength during his hospital stay to meet his hero Sponge Bob Square Pants ? a visit arranged by the Rainbow Connection of Michigan.
In addition, Novack and Roop were fortunate enough to witness Dakota’s life dream come true when deputies from Oakland County Sheriff’s Department deputized him during one of his final visits home, a month before he died.
‘I’ll be walking, running, or crawling (to finish the marathon),? Roop said, adding that although she is not a runner, the effort she and Novack are putting into the race is worth the reward.
‘If we can raise money (to help fight these deadly diseases) and perhaps help save another life, it will all be worth it,? she said.
While Novack is not a runner, she did complete a marathon two years ago to benefit cancer victims. Novack ran with her sister-in-law, who is a cancer survivor.
And while Novack was instrumental in encouraging Roop to run in the Country Music Marathon, Roop is now setting a goal for the pair to run again for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in June. This time the race is in Anchorage, Alaska.
According to Roop over 15,000 people will run in the April marathon to benefit the Leukemia Society.
‘Whenever I think to myself that I don’t have the energy to run, I just think of the kids going through treatment and that is what motivates me,? Roop said.
Tickets for the Kalloway’s fund-raiser buffet and dinner $40 each or $20 for just the comedy show.
The silent auction is scheduled for 6 p.m.; dinner at 7 p.m.; and the show begins at 8 p.m.
Tickets may be purchased through Kalloway’s (248-628-6500), Anne Roop (248-431-7556), at the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department’s Oxford Township Substation on Lapeer Road. Those wishing to send checks can mail them to Anne Roop, P.O. Box 300, Oxford, MI 48371.
Additional marathon fundraisers
n Monday, January 31 at BD’s Mongolian Barbeque in Auburn Hills. Red Wing player Jason Woolley will be on hand to sign autographs.
n Saturday, February 26 at Hoops in Auburn Hills will be another night of comedy and dining.