Events seek donations for different causes

The last Saturday in September will be a busy one in Fallon with three separate community events promoting their causes; The Cancer Warriors of Central Nevada’s Redneck Shindig, The Churchill Community Coalition National Recovery Day and Domestic Violence Intervention’s Rockin’ Purple Ride.

Redneck Shindig

The Redneck Shindig begins Saturday by hosting a 5K run/walk at the Churchill County Fairgrounds. Registration begins at 7 a.m. with the run starting at 7:30 a.m. After the 5K run/walk, the event will have its opening ceremony at 8 a.m. followed by breakfast and then games and contests throughout the day.

“The Redneck Shindig is an all-day family event raising money for two local cancer patients. We will have a 5K, a redneck car show, flea market, catapult contest, games and many fun activities,” said Laurel Topken, president of Cancer Warriors for Central Nevada

Topken said the proceeds made from the shindig will support Christina Santiago and Scott Wilson, both Fallon residents battling cancer.

Santiago is currently fighting breast cancer, her second bout with the disease. She carries a mutant hormonal gene called BRCA and HER2, which is another hormonal condition that affects breast tissue and mutates the normal cells and turns them into cancerous cells and becomes very aggressive in nature and spreads quickly. She was diagnosed at the end of October 2013 and had a double mastectomy on Nov. 11. Santiago is a realtor, but she has had a difficult time with the schedule and her treatments.

The second recipient, according to Topken, is Scott Wilson. A public educator for 32 years, Wilson is currently teaching biology at Churchill County High School. Wilson has four children and five grandchildren, and he is married to Kerri Angel, an eighth-grade science teacher at Churchill County Middle School. While having a CT scan on his left kidney for a kidney stone, Wilson learned from the doctor a substantial mass was inadvertently discovered in his right kidney. On Feb. 3, the mass was removed, as well as an adrenal gland, and tets found to be a stage II Renal Cell Carcinoma. Wilson is currently recovering at home post-operation.

Family Fun Day

National Recovery Month will hold its eighth annual Fallon Family Fun Day picnic and events at Venturacci Park starting at 8 a.m. with registration and a 9 a.m. race time with its 5K-color walk/run. According to Lana K. Robards, executive director at New Frontier, the annual Kara Kelly-Borgognone Memorial event includes games and activities for children, a skateboard exhibition, a martial arts exhibition and a free barbecue with hamburgers and hot dogs and all the fixings.

“We hope that we can again count on your support through whatever means you wish, whether that is by your attendance and support or by monetary or other donations,” Robards said. “This is where we come together as a community — our family, friends and neighbors. As we all have come to know, addiction does not discriminate.”

Robards said any contributions toward prizes would be appreciated.

Domestic Violence Awareness

This year’s kickoff for Domestic Violence Awareness Month begins with the third annual Rockin’ Purple Ride that starts at 10:30 a.m. It leaves Fox Peak and heads to the Eagles Hall where the event will continue with lunch and personal testimony from Nilzara Pietri Atchison of her survival.

All motorcycles, trucks and street legal cars may participate in the event. The $10 registration fee provides the vehicle’s driver with a domestic violence awareness pin, a raffle ticket.

Participants should decorate vehicles with purple and show support for the cause. The Eagles Hall will provide the event space and The Waterhole & Beatriz Soto donated food for lunch. Lunch tickets are available for $5 per plate for Mexican chicken tacos, rice, beans and bottled water.

This year’s raffle prizes are a 32-inch Toshiba television, 5th Generation Apple iPod Touch 16 GB, 5th Generation Apple iPad 16 GB, four tickets to Disneyland and a one night stay at the Atlantis in Reno.

Chrissi Sponsler, advocate program manager, said raffle prizes will be given away to winners who are present at the event. She said raffle tickets are $10 each or five tickets for $40.

Other events that DVI will be hosting in October are the dying of the Maine Street water fountain on Wednesday at 11 a.m., the Chili Cook off hosted by Big Horn Saloon and the “Hands are not for hitting” bus provided by Churchill County School District.

Founded in 1982, DVI is a nonprofit organization focusing on helping victims and their children of family violence.

DVI helps families directly and indirectly through advocacy and education. In 1998, DVI opened its doors to the only shelter in Fallon.

Services provided by DVI to victims and their families are free.