NOH Records Successful Night

Legion Park had a different kind of buzz through the evening Friday. It carried the drone of activity from walkers, music, dancing, auctions and many other activities in support of cancer research and local people who have been touched by the disease.

Friday night, Sidney held the 2018 Night of Hope Walk for Cancer. The event is staged as an opportunity to remember those who lost their battle against cancer, recognize those who are still in the fight and those who have survived, and to support local cancer patients and their families. Proceeds from the Night Of Hope also fund scholarships for students entering Western Nebraska Community College to study medicine. This is the 16th year of Night Of Hope. The event was held at Weymouth Field until 2009 when it was moved to the new Legion Park Pond.

"I think it went really well," said Night Of Hope Foundation President Brenda Noel.

She estimated about 250 to 300 people attended Friday's Night Of Hope.

Noel said considering changes in the community, the event was a success. She said the grand total of the night was more than $35,000. That amount includes corporate sponsors, sale of the luminaries, donations for the slide show, the silent auction and the Chair-ity Auction. The Chair-ity auction is an auction of chairs - highchairs to lawn chairs and anything in-between - decorated to a specific theme and then auctioned to the highest bidder. The silent auction varied from custom artwork to hats and jackets, and gift certificates.

The night opened with the Survivor Lap at 6 p.m., followed by a donation barbecue. The silent auction was open, offering more than 80 opportunities to donate, and the Chair-ity auction sold 10 chairs. Noel said the Chair-ity auction generated close to $2,000.

The night also included face-painting, a photo booth, music, a slide show, lighting of the luminaries, presentation of awards and a Reading of the Luminaries.

Funds were also generated by the Red Raider football team and Unified Raiders. A car wash was held, generating $426 for Night Of Hope.

Night Of Hope started as a way to support the local cancer center, according to Noel. She said Night Of Hope replaces Relay for Life. Relay for Life kept nearly all of the proceeds for national organization while 90 percent of Night Of Hope is dedicated to local cancer programs.

Noel commended the youth groups who were involved in the event, including Unified Raiders, Boy Scouts and Job's Daughters.

"We hope to keep the kids involved," she said. "They're our future."