A helping hand in Northeastern Minnesota
We are grateful to all of the above for their generosity! Kickin’ Cancer in the Cornhole 2023 is thankful to each. We could not hold the event without them! Please patronize these businesses and thank the individuals as a sign of support for Angel Fund. Thank you!
Even as several family members of their own deal with cancer, the Wayne (& Donna) Hysjulien of Hibbing family continues to give and give and give.
The family held their 12th annual R-Cubed Triathlon in mid-July on Burnt Shanty Lake. They swam, biked and ran their hearts out while raising another generous $6,600 for Angel Fund.
R-Cubed is a commemoration of Roxane “Roxie” DeMillo — beloved wife, daughter of Donna and Wayne, mother, sister, aunt, teacher and friend who succumbed to a 10-year battle with cancer on April 11, 2007. Jamie Hysjulien, son of Donna and Wayne, passed away on April 21, 2019, often participated in R-Cubed. Mark DeMillo, Roxie’s widow and Hibbing musician, passed away from stomach cancer on Aug. 1, 2016.
The Hysjuliens support Angel Fund to honor the trio and because the monies stay local and go directly to patients. Angel Fund provides financial assistance to Northeastern Minnesota residents diagnosed with cancer who are dealing with treatment.
“We know cancer is not unique to our family, but this year we have once again been impacted significantly by cancer,” said Holly Hysjulien. “And in the midst of this, we continue to try to make a small difference in the world by raising money for the Angel Fund.”
This year the Hysjulien family was impacted by leukemia, esophageal and prostate cancer.
“And we know we are not alone,” added Holly. “Cancer impacts so many families each and every day, and this is one way to give to those impacted. Every little bit counts. We are stronger together.”
Angel Fund is simply better with the Hysjulien family.
“As their theme for this year states, we’re ‘stronger together’ – there are no truer words,’” said Angel Fund Executive Director Kelly Grinsteinner. “This family is unstoppable when it comes to love, support and simply being gracious human beings. We remain thankful and humbled by their efforts. We are forever grateful.”
The family’s donations to Angel Fund to date total more than $85,000.
To apply for assistance, donate or learn more about Angel Fund, log on to angelfundrange.org or find us on Facebook. Donations are also accepted at hysjulien.com.
Angel Fund board members, along with volunteers from MDI and Rapids Brewing Co., participated in the Tall Timber Days Parade on Sunday, Aug. 6, in Grand Rapids. In addition to spreading the word and awareness of the fund, they also handed out fliers about our upcoming Kickin’ Cancer in the Cornhole FUNdraiser on Saturday, Sept. 16th, at Rapids Brewing Co. (see angelfundrange.org/kickin-cancer-in-the-cornhole-2023 for details and to register or the Facebook Event Page).
Kickin’ Cancer in the Cornhole is taking on Rapids – Rapids Brewing Company, that is.
The one-day fundraiser returns on Saturday, Sept. 16, and will take place at Rapids Brewing Company in Grand Rapids.
Games of double elimination will begin at 1 p.m. Early entry fee is $25 per person or $50 per team. Prices increase to $30 per person and $60 per team on Sept. 1. Registration includes lunch and two drinks (beer or root beer) per person.
Register below by Sept. 15. Same day registration on site (please arrive early). Up to 64 teams. No refunds.
Must play with bags provided at the event. Scoring is race to 21.
Payouts will be up to $500. Fun team names, themes and costumes are encouraged.
All are invited to stop in for a beverage, a meal, raffles and games. You do not have to play in the competition to attend!
For questions, message us on Facebook or email info@angelfundrange.org.
PENGILLY — The small yet mighty Run-A-Muck ATV Club in Pengilly recently presented a check for $9,200 to Angel Fund.
This is a record-breaking amount of proceeds from their third annual Lucky Duck event, and they couldn’t be more proud, according to Run-A-Muck ATV Club Secretary Chris Sheff.
Held on June 10th, the event featured an ATV ride and a Duck Chuck competition in which rubber duckies were sent sailing into the air via catapult. The ducks traveling the furthest in each round then moved on to the final rounds.
“It was a very exciting and fun-filled day on the trails in Itasca County,” noted Sheff.
The Duck Chuck competition was held at Toivo’s Pub in Hibbing. Ray’s Sport & Cycle of Grand Rapids also has their retail trailer there.
“Run-A-Muck ATV Club wishes to thank all of their dedicated members, business partners and all of the ATV riders that took part in the Lucky Duck fundraiser to help Angel Fund continue their important work of assisting cancer patients in Northern Minnesota,” said Sheff.
Angel Fund members were flattered to be chosen as the Club’s charity of choice this year. A few board members who joined the club for the Lucky Duck were thoroughly impressed with the organization of the event and how much fun was had.
“To see the ducks fly was a hoot, and that catapult was quite the contraption!” said Kelly Grinsteinner, Angel Fund executive director. “Seeing it in action brought a lot of laughter, smiles and cheering. Being in a feel-good atmosphere is so welcome when focusing on cancer.”
ATVS decked-out with hearts and colorful ribbons and hearing the personal stories from survivors, those currently battling and those we’ve lost to cancer added a sense of bitter sweetness to the day.
“Angel Fund would like to thank the Run-a-Muck club for their donation,” said Board President Shannon Petroske. “We’re grateful for their support and generosity, as it will help us continue to provide financial assistance and hope to cancer patients residing in northeast Minnesota.”
The generous donation also comes at a key time as Angel Fund is experiencing a record-setting number of requests for the first half of a year. To date, more than $62,000 has been gifted to 134 people this year.
“This volume of requests far exceeds a typical year for the fund, and we’re now bracing ourselves to cross the $100,000 in gifts threshold,” said Kelly Grinsteinner. “This tells us that the number of cancer diagnoses is rising, more people have returned to doctoring post-COVID and that more are aware of the Fund.”
The Angel Fund Board of Directors recently approved expanding its gifting parameters to allow for a third gift per patient. This means that those facing cancer can now tap the fund up to three times during their treatment.
To apply, donate or learn more about Angel Fund, log on to angelfundrange.org or facebook.com/angelfundrange. A list of upcoming fundraisers can also located there, including the inaugural Putting Fore Patients mini golf night on Monday, July 24, at Greens on Foreteenth in Virginia.
For more info on the Run-a-Muck ATV Club, see runamuckatv.wixsite.com. The Club is now gearing up for its third annual Fall Fest on Saturday, Sept. 9. The ATV ride is a Dart Poker Run, raising funds to build trails to connect to neighboring towns on the Range. The current trail being designed will connect Pengilly to Calumet and then to Marble. See facebook.com/runamuckatv for details and sponsorship opportunities.
