Cathleen Allison/Nevada AppealWorkers from the American Traveling Shows Inc. set up the "Tornado" ride Wednesday morning in Dayton. The carnival will run today through Sunday at the Dayton Valley Golf and Country Club as part of the Weekend Extravaganza fundraiser.
Having a family member or friend struggle with cancer can lead some people to despair.
It can lead others to action.
Many members of the staff of the Dayton Valley Golf and Country Club have had loved ones face that struggle, said Debbie Darnell, events coordinator for the club.
"We saw the struggles that they had not only mentally and physically but financially as well," she said. "There are many fundraisers to support cures for cancer which are great and are needed, but we wanted to help raise money that would immediately impact and help our local residents struggling with any form of cancer."
The action the club and its employees chose to take was to put on a benefit for the Carson Advocates for Cancer Care. It's an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that helps families directly with financial assistance, coordinating with health care organizations, prescription expenses and gas cards to help them travel to and from treatments.
This weekend, that benefit includes a carnival, a barbecue, special greens fees and a concert by popular local band David John and the Comstock Cowboys.
The carnival began Thursday and will continue to Sunday, but the main event is Saturday, from 11 a.m. on.
Tickets are $45 a person and $80 a couple, and include the barbecue and the concert, which is from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Those who buy two tickets will get a third one free.
Children 10 and under are admitted to the show for free, with their dinner costing just $5.
Other activities include horse-drawn carriage and pony rides, and visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, though not coolers.
Darnell said the carnival, open from 1 to 10 p.m. daily through Sunday, features $20 wrist bands for unlimited rides Friday and $25 for Saturday and Sunday. Individual ride tickets can also be purchased.
She said the club hopes to raise $10,000 for the Carson Advocates for Cancer Care and will continue to host fundraising activities.
"We have some fundraiser golf tournaments currently booked for this year and gladly welcome more," she said.
The golf club's next big fundraiser is the Holiday Festival of Lights on Dec. 20, the second year for the event, and will once again be a pajama drive for the Children's Cabinet.
- Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or call 881-7351.