Hopeful Horizons lunch fundraiser to benefit breast cancer research

The annual Hopeful Horizons luncheon will be held Oct. 18 at Whitetail Ridge Golf Club in Yorkville. Gail Hernly, local Plainfield Longaberger home consultant and other area consultants that co-host the luncheon, anticipates that with a larger venue this year it will be better than ever.

This annual luncheon began in 1999 and with a group of local women and the common bond of being Longaberger consultants and their involvement in the Horizon of Hope campaign.

"It has evolved and grown due to our passion and commitment to eradicate breast cancer in our lifetime," Hernly stated.

This year will again include a live auction by Sheila DeBolt of DeBolt Auction Service of Plano. "Our sponsors have been very generous over the years and we are excited this year with a wonderful variety of items for our guests to bid on, both the live and silent auctions as well as the raffles," Hernly said. The group thanks Patterson Medical and their support in the overall costs of the event. There are various sponsor opportunities still available.

The program joins independent home consultants, customers, friends and employees with the American Cancer Society in an effort to make a difference in the lives of others by uniting in the fight against breast cancer. To date, the partnership has raised over $13 million for the American Cancer Society and reached an estimated 19 million women with potentially lifesaving information.

In conjunction with this program, Hernly and other local consultants - Beth Swanson of Sandwich, Tammie Smith of Plano, Cindy Fraser of Sandwich and Natalie Dougherty - work together to co-host the Hopeful Horizons luncheon to raise additional funds and further increase awareness. In addition to the direct donation of $2 per ticket a basket made directly by the Longaberger Company $5 per ticket will be donated to the American Cancer Society and all proceeds from the luncheon will be donated to the Chicago affiliate of the Susan G Komen Foundation.

"Last year the luncheon donated over $7,100, with a larger venue we hope to far exceed that this year - every dollar contributed toward research and education puts us closer to a cure," stated Hernly.

The benefit takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 at the Whitetail Ridge Golf Club in Yorkville Tickets are $60 which includes lunch, a 2008 Horizon of Hope basket, door prizes, musical entertainment, speakers and a weaving demonstration by a Longaberger basket maker from the Ohio manufacturing plant. There will be a silent auction of a large variety of items donated by local business as well as retired Longaberger products. All baskets woven at the event will be given away as additional door prizes.

Tickets are available through Tuesday, Sept. 30 on a first-come, first-served basis. For tickets and/or sponsor information, call Gail Hernly at (630)-253-5346; Cindy Fraser at (815) 786-6637; Natalie Dougherty at (608) 348-4390; Beth Swanson at (815) 258-5687; or Tammie Smith at (630) 552 7068.