Wine and fashion show benefits cancer network
Danielle Switalski
Quality entertainment and a little bit of wine can go a surprisingly long way.
October 8 marks the eighth annual Wine Tasting and Fashion Show event benefiting the Cancer Network of Sanders County, the nonprofit organization devoted to helping those in Sanders County who suffer from cancer.
The event, sponsored by McGowan’s Grocery has been growing in significance each year, raising over $35,000 for the Cancer Network since it began. Initially event Organizer Erika Lawyer said the event began as an idea for simply a wine tasting party, however Lawyer wanted it to go for a specific cause.
“The first year it was really small, we had it in the basement of First Security Bank and everyone had such a good time and we thought we could maybe do it every year and make it a signature event,” said Lawyer.
A signature event is exactly what it has become here in Plains. With a little around 200 guests attending each year to enjoy wine tasting, bid on a silent auction, listen to the guitar playing of Darin King and watch a fashion show put on by Mountain West Clothing using all local volunteer models, word has spread to various parts of Western Montana.
The Community Medical Center, St. Pat’s Health Sciences out of Missoula and Northwest Radiology and Oncology of the Kalispell Regional Medical Center have all donated an amount of money to help with the underlying costs of the event. Any additional funds, said Lawyer will go directly to the Cancer Network.
The Cancer Network has been able to help residents of Sanders County tenfold since the wine tasting event began. When the Cancer Network was first formed in 2000, they were able to give one-time gifts of $50 to those battling cancer. They are now able to give annual gifts of $300.
“If we earn lots of lots of money at the wine tasting it (the gift amount) will go up. It’s our biggest fundraiser of the year,” said the President of the Cancer Network of Sanders County, Kathy Miller.
The gifts given to residents of Sanders County are given with “no strings attached,” said Miller and can be used for anything the patients may need, from gas, to prescription drugs or heat in the winter.
Lawyer said they try to do something new at the event each year and this year they are going to try and have a blind-wine tasting contest. People who guess right will have their name entered into a raffle to win a prize.
“After 7 years of coming here can you tell the difference between a cabernet and a pinot noir?” Lawyer asked jokingly.
Lawyer does not want people to be intimidated by the wine tasting however, because there will be plenty of nonalcoholic beverages, hors de oeuvres donated by the Clark Fork Valley Hospital, donated deserts and a small selection of seasonal beers.
“We want it to be come eat, come taste some wines, come enjoy the style show, visit with your friends that you haven’t seen for a while and go home and it enjoy it responsibly,” said Lawyer.
Despite the recession last year, the event raised approximately $6,000. Lawyer is hoping to increase that amount this year, but was adamant on the fact that any amount is beneficial and greatly appreciated. She also added “before I quit doing this in one year I want to break $10,000.”
The event is from 7-9 p.m. at the fair grounds pavilion Thursday October 8. Tickets can be purchased at the door or at Mountain West Clothing on Railroad St.