The theme of last Monday’s annual Mothers Against Cancer holiday luncheon was “Unwrap a Miracle.” The miracle refers to the organization’s mission of eliminating childhood cancer. Over the past 22 years, this home-grown, Kingwood-based charity has raised more than $3 million dollars to fund research projects at Texas Children’s Hospital Cancer Center.
As has been the holiday tradition, the annual luncheon was held at the Kingwood Country Club, packed with a crowd of more than 500 MAC supporters. Keller Williams Realty Northeast Owners Judy Hopkins and Mark Heinrich were Silver Sponsors of the event. Judy hosted a table and several KWNE agents were in attendance including Diana Heffner, Letitia Whipple, Diana Hadley, Gail Herron and Terri Blewett.
MAC Executive Director Nancy Dillard was the emcee, introducing Dr. David Poplack and Dr. ZoAnn Dreyer from Texas Children’s Hospital. Dr. Dreyer spoke about this year’s MAC luncheon honoree Megan Wise. Megan is a seventeen-year-old Kingwood resident who has battled Cystic Fibrosis from birth. Since November 2009, she has had to take on another fight: Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The cancer developed just six months after she received a double lung transplant. While Megan was reluctant to come on stage, she enjoyed shopping the amazing array of raffle prizes, just like any teenage girl would do.
The Eagle Springs Elementary Choir entertained the luncheon-goers with Christmas carols and Mariah Carey’s “Hero.” The song had special significance for Kasey Davis. Kasey explained to the audience that she was the MAC luncheon honoree 18 years ago. With obvious emotion in her voice, she said she survived childhood cancer thanks to Texas Children’s and has gone on to become a teacher at Eagle Springs Elementary School.
A hero of another sort was the next surprise guest. When auctioneer Rick Alspaugh described the first live auction item, he was joined on stage by Houston Astros outfielder Hunter Pence. The prize was a signed jersey and a dinner for eight with the baseball player. When the bidding war eventually reached $20,000, the room was silent until Pence offered to give both bidders a dinner for eight with him for that price. Debbie Bergstrom and Mary Manifold were the lucky winners.
Sally Denman did the honor of pulling the winning raffle tickets. Her daughter Ann, who died of cancer at two years old, was the impetus for the founding of the MAC organization. The raffle was big success as Nancy Dillard announced that for the first time in 22 years they had run out of raffle tickets. Among the winners was Diana Heffner who received a package with three different Texas winery tours and wine tasting at two different local establishments.
Everyone got to go home with a gift from their table: the hand-made 2010 MAC Christmas ornament. This year’s ornament was a little angel made out of a wine bottle cork. This holiday season it will serve as a reminder of the MAC motto: “an angel is someone who helps you believe in miracles again.”
