Local Women Dedicate Lives to Planning the Annual Cancer Ball

Planning, organizing and running the Annual American Cancer Society Cancer Ball is not an easy job, but Leigh Ricker of Fair Haven and Carolyn Miller of Rumson say that there are many reasons that make volunteering for this cause rewarding.

“We’ve been motivated to continue to volunteer for this event by people that we know who have cancer,” said Miller.

This extravagant event is one of the largest single-night fundraisers for the American Cancer Society in the nation and is attended by over 600 people. Since 2000 alone, the Cancer Ball has raised nearly $15 million in the fight against cancer. This year’s ball, which has sold out at 600 tickets, will be on Saturday, June 11 at 6:00 p.m. at the Fairway Farm in Middletown.

Ricker and Miller were named the 2011 Co-Chairs of the Cancer Ball at last year’s event. They have been working full-time towards this Saturday night ever since. 

The women say that the job is not easy, but is worth it because of the support from the community, inspiration from people battling cancer around them and knowing that their event is truly making a difference.

The women spent the past year running meeting, organizing committees, getting donations, selling tickets, planning the event, and much more to make the ball a success, but they are not alone. Over 170 people from around Monmouth and Ocean counties dedicate their time and resources to the Cancer Ball each year. “A lot of local women give their time and energy to this event,” said Ricker. “It is really moving to see how much people are willing to give. 

Not only do women donate towards the event, but also their children, husbands, neighbors and local businesses. “There are so many volunteers from Rumson and Fair Haven. Every store said yes when we asked for prizes, every company generously donated when we asked for some support. It is because of our community that this event is such a success,” said Ricker.

Click to read about the Junior Committee made up of local high school students who also work behind the scenes in the making of the ball. 

Another reason why the women decided to take on the responsibility of being co-chairs for the ball is because they were inspired by the people around them who they have seen battling cancer.

“This event makes you realize that cancer touches everybody. There are committee members who are survivors or are battling cancer, we all have neighbors, friends and family who have been affected,” said Miller.

“Over the years, I have lost people to cancer, seen people battle it and it is a really awful thing,” said Ricker. “Being a co-chair is a really big honor to me. I had never really though about it until I was asked, but I am happy to do it.”

The women said that knowing that this gala can make a difference in these people’s lives is another motivation to make the event the best it can be. 

At a cocktail party fundraiser for the ball, a young man named Mathew Patera spoke about his battle with brain cancer. “My friend called me after the cocktail party to tell me he was proud of me and wanted to know more about Mathew because he wanted to donate money,” said Miller filling up with emotion. “That is why I do it.”

The money raised from the event goes to local organizations of the American Cancer Society in Shrewsbury and Toms River. These organizations help support programs and services for cancer patients and their families, including Road to Recovery, which provides free round-trip transportation for cancer patients to doctor visits and treatments, and Reach to Recovery, a program which pairs trained volunteer breast cancer survivors with newly diagnosed cancer patients to help them cope with their diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Patients and families can access help any time of the day or night by calling 800-227-2345 or online at cancer.org.

On Saturday night, the co-chairs' hard work will pay off when they see everything come together, all of the guests enjoy the night and are able to write a big check to the American Cancer Society.

They said once the event is happening, they will feel relieved, but its not over. “Sunday morning is Bloody Mary’s and taking down the tent!” said Miller. That is when they pass the baton to the 2011 Vice Co-Chairs to start getting ready for the 2012 gala and the process starts all over again.