JUDA — The 15th annual Fore Father’s Memorial Celebration’s success on July 30-31 will aid in the coming year’s potential turmoil.
The fundraiser, “Juda’s Four Fathers”, was originally created to help the families of Roger Dunwiddie, Mike Dunwiddie, Robert Pehl and Jerry Sarabacker who all passed away in the year prior, 2006. They succeeded in giving each other their children, seven in total, $1,500. Since it’s conception, the festival has grown and continues to aid local families in need. It provides two $500 scholarships to schools within Juda’s conference, rewards $200 to graduating students of Juda, sponsors church dinners and provides for two Honor Flights for local veterans to visit Washington D.C.
Other local organizations impacted from the Juda Fore Fathers donations include the Wisconsin Badger camps, Gifts that Foster Hope, Justice for a Cure, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Moose Lodge, Green County Food Pantry and the Monroe Youth Center. The group also assists in the upkeep of Juda’s 9 Angels Memorial, which is dedicated to the nine Juda seniors who lost their lives in 1967 due to a tragic accident on their senior field trip.
Also each year, one individual is selected to be the recipient of the profits made from the sale of can koozies. This year’s recipient is Kate Brown of Brodhead.
After seeing multiple doctors in regards to a cough, Kate was discovered to have an unknown number of tumors in her neck, chest and brain in the beginning of July. Her diagnosis and treatment were not entirely clear at first. It was later determined Kate had a form of lung cancer that spread to her bone marrow and brain. Small Cell Carcinoma and Adrenocortical Carcinoma are among the possibilities, and the long-term diagnosis is not good.
Kate’s several tumors concern her doctors. One of which has caused bleeding on her brain. Scans revealed 15 total tumors on her brain. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment and reserving the use of radiation to her brain as a last resort due to the side effects that mirror Alzheimer’s.
Kate is married to Ben Brown and together they have four children: Byron, Gavon, Korben and their angel Charly May. She is concerned for them but enjoying their time together.
“You need to give it your best go for as long as you can,” Kate said. “I have been through tough stuff before.”
Over $2,000 was raised to assist the Brown family from the Fore Fathers.
“The support from everyone has been overwhelming,” Kate said. “I have been getting cards from people I have never met. We are so appreciative of everything and the continued prayers.”
Juda has a total of 300 residents, creating a very close-knit community. When tragedy strikes, it is never far from home. Both Kate’s brother and sister reside in Juda.
“Their family lived down the road... My husband grew up with them... They were family friends,” Darci Steinmann, an active member, said in describing her personal connections to previous recipients of the organization’s funding.
Throughout the years, the group averages between $5,000 and $7,000 after expenses from their annual fundraiser. The event includes a beer garden and live music on Friday night followed by a poker run ride Saturday. They include a map of several local locations to stop and get stamped, trafficking support for other local businesses. Five or more equals a poker hand and a chance to win a prize. This year’s winners included Alice Bechtolt with the best hand, Russ Johnson and Miranda Polanski for second and third place. Russ and Miranda donated their winnings to Kate Brown. During the slow race bike game, the winner, Mike Kammes was able to go the slowest without putting his foot down.
The festival also includes both a silent auction and a live auction as well as a gun raffle. Many of the prizes are donated by local businesses. The two auctions combined raised upwards of $9,000 with the highest bid of $2,550 for an engraved 15th Annual event rifle.
In total, the group raised over $20,000 this year before expenses, estimated to be $14,000 after, from the generous 200 plus people who attended the event. One individual journeyed 245.4 miles, nearly four hours, to support the cause.
“Future recipients, I am sure will send thanks in advance,” said member Jordyn Steinmann-VanMatre.
The funds will be allocated every month by the 10 members of Juda’s Fore Fathers. The entire non-profit is run by them and assisted by other small volunteers who make the event run smoothly. They are seeking to increase membership and awareness for their organization in order to help continue fostering community growth after a year that caused so much hardship on everyone.
