Fox Valley fundraisers

Fund-raisers To submit your listing, e-mail foxvalley@dailyherald.com, or fax (847) 608-0849.

Amazin' Race: On June 7, teams of 4 to 8 people will race through downtown Elgin on foot, finding clues to take them to their next stop in Elgin's Amazin' Race.

There will be stops at different spots around downtown; you'll have to solve the clues to find the next stop and even traverse "detours" and "roadblocks!"

The team with the fastest time will win. Awards will be given for the top three teams.

Elgin Public House is the main sponsor of the event and will provide food at day's end.

Register now at The Centre of Elgin and businesses in downtown Elgin. Cost per team is $99. Each team member will receive discounts on goods and services from downtown Elgin businesses.

All ages are welcome -- get your team together now.

All proceeds will benefit Elgin Parks and Recreation Youth Scholarship Fund which provides financial assistance to access recreation for families in need. This program assisted nearly 800 people in 2007.

For details, contact Greg Bruggeman at (847) 531-7007 or Bruggeman_g@cityofelgin. org.

Summerblast 2008: Auxiliary of Good Shepherd will present SummerBlast 2008 as a kick-off for the summer.

The event is planned from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 7 at the hospital on Route 22 two miles west of Route 59.

Cost is $5 per person. The ideal age group is 3 to 12 years old. In addition to raffles and cookie walk, activities include moonwalk, speed radar pitch, soccer kick, rock climbing wall, carnival games, face painting and tatoos.

All proceeds to Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital

Turning Point Wine Tasting: Turning Point, McHenry County's advocate for victims of domestic violence, will be the beneficiary of a wine tasting to be held from 1 to 4 p.m. June 22 at Dunnhill's on Route 31 in McHenry.

This will be the third annual wine tasting held at the McHenry steak house, hosted by former Turning Point board member Marc Munaretto and his wife Denise.

The event will feature hot and cold hors d'oeuvres and a variety of wines to taste and enjoy.

Tickets to the wine tasting are $50 per person, and can be reserved by calling Turning Point at (815) 338 8081, Ext. 261.

Relay for Life: The American Cancer Society says one in three Americans will be diagnosed with the disease during their lifetime. There is a way to make a difference in the battle. On June 27-28, hundreds of local survivors, caregivers, family, friends and volunteers will participate in the Relay For Life of Kane County.

Relay For Life is a fun-filled, overnight celebration to honor survivors, remember loved ones and raise money to fight cancer. The event is at Philip B. Elfstrom Stadium in the Kane County Events Center. Opening ceremonies begin at 7 p.m. and the relay officially starts when local cancer survivors unite to walk or ride during the first lap of the event. After the first lap, they are joined by caregivers -- family, friends and those who have helped during their battles with cancer.

Afterward and throughout the night, teams of eight to 15 members use an illuminated path to guide participants as they walk around the clock. Though not all teams stay overnight, those that do designate at least one team member to walk or run at all times. Food, games, music and special activities keep energy high during the night and early morning.

Closing ceremonies are held at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 28. The public is welcome to attend, watch or take part in any of the festivities.

The goal of this year's Relay For Life of Kane County is to raise more than $350,000. With just about a month to go, there are 570 registered participants, 71 teams, and over $119,000 raised.

For more information, call the American Cancer Society at (630) 879-9009, Ext. 3, or visit Web site www.relayforlifekane.com.

World Relief: Would you like to help those suffering from recent world disasters, but are afraid your money will never get where it is truly needed?

Monetary donations are being collected through Sunday at Barrington United Methodist Church to assist those affected by the recent tornadoes in the U.S., the earthquake in China, and the devastating cyclone in Myanmar.

One hundred percent of your offering given to United Methodist Committee on Relief will help those in need. Make checks payable to BUMC, note "UMCOR" on the ledger and mail to: 98 Algonquin Road, Barrington, IL 60010.

For the latest information on the Methodist Church at work in the world go to the General Board of Global Ministries Web site http://new.gbgm-umc.org.

Texas Hold'em fundraiser: Lake in the Hills Police Benevolent Association's Texas Hold'em Poker Tournament Fundraiser, Lic #CG-2028, will be held June 20 at the American Legion, 1101 W. Algonquin Road, Lake in the Hills.

Registration is at 6:30 p.m. and games begin at 7:30 p.m. Must be 18 or older to play.

Buy-in is $60; re-buy option is $30.

Prizes will be awarded based on 50 percent of total buy-ins, not including re-buys.

One hundred seats are available; register now to reserve your seat. For reservations or information, contact Mark Mogan or Eric Decker at lithpba@lith.org Lake in the Hills Police Benevolent Association, 1115 Crystal Lake Road, Lake in the Hills or call (847) 658-5676 or fax to (847) 960-7552.

Garden Walk: Four stunning gardens located in Cary, Fox River Grove and Crystal Lake have been selected for this year's annual Garden Walk event, to be held from 3 to 7 p.m. June 21.

The event is the largest fundraiser of the year for the Cary Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fund.

Featured homes include the homes of Gerald and Patricia Menzel and Frank and Judy Ganser of Fox River Grove, the home of Dave and Andi Miller of Cary and the Crystal Lake home of Bob Grassley, owner of Stonewood Design Group Inc., a landscape designer and horticulturist.

Tickets are $70 per person and include tour of four area gardens, and a progressive meal and wine tasting at each home. The price includes the wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres, dinner and bus transportation to each garden. Seating is limited. Call the chamber office at (847) 639-2800 to reserve your spot.

The Garden Walk Committee consists of Dorothy Miller of Lake Julian Trout Farm, Neelie Kruse of Cary Travel Express, Christine Counley of Tastefully Simple, Wendy Franz of R & W Construction Custom Home Remodeling, Cathy Olson of Herbalife, Patsy Frits of Realty Executives on the Move, and Kathie McLaughlin of American National Insurance-McLaughlin Agency.

Last year the Cary Grove Chamber awarded three business scholarships to area high school students. The awards, totaling $2,250, are intended to encourage local students to pursue college interests that might impact area business. Last year's scholarship award winners were local students Ellen Smialek, Robert Clanton and Ashley Howe.