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CALUMET, Mich. – Calumet students and Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital are partnering once again for the Jersey Fund in support of local cancer care.
The Jersey Fund is a collaborative effort to help bring extra comfort to oncology patients during their care. Funds are raised through student-organized activities and jersey silent auctions during the Calumet Copper Kings varsity boys hockey game on Tuesday, Feb. 13 and the varsity girls basketball game on Thursday, Feb. 15. Athletes gear up in pink for both games.
All proceeds will be used to create special comfort kits filled with useful items patients may need before, during and after their treatment. In previous years, proceeds helped to purchase iPads and warming blankets for patients to use while receiving treatment at Aspirus Keweenaw.
Many generous community sponsors help make the Jersey Fund a great success. Partnering sponsors this year include: AmericInn, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Calumet Machine, Erico Electric, Erx Group, LLC, Miron Construction Co., Inc., Pat’s Foods, Range Bank, RC Mechanical, River Valley Bank, U.P. Engineers and Architects, Inc., and Upper Peninsula Power Company.
Calumet students have already started raising money through root beer float and pink, cream-filled doughnut sales during lunch. The middle school organized a dance and the elementary school is selling popsicles. During the hockey and basketball games, students will be selling chocolate kisses for donations. Jersey silent auctions will take place at both games. Bidding sheets will be available in the lobby areas. There’s a $75 minimum bid to enter the hockey jersey silent auction and $50 for basketball.
“It’s really great to see how passionate the students and sponsors are about supporting local cancer care,” said Jessica Bessner, oncology service line director for Aspirus Keweenaw. “It means a lot to our patients and we can’t thank them enough for their generous involvement.”
The Jersey Fund gets underway with the Copper Kings varsity boys hockey game at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 13, at the Calumet Colosseum. The varsity girls basketball game takes place on Thursday, Feb. 15 at 7:15 p.m. at the Calumet High School Gym.
For more information about the Jersey Fund, contact Jenn Jenich-Laplander at 337-6541.
