Quincy project aims to help cancer patients

QUINCY - A Quincy Make A Difference Day project is aimed at helping fund cancer research and provide support for cancer patients.

The city issued a proclamation dedicating the event to Mario Guzman, a 23-year-old lifelong resident of the city, who died after battling leukemia. Guzman's parents were in the audience during a recent council meeting as the mayor read the proclamation.

Bonnie Kniveton, an organizer for the event, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, said they plan to raise money for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Dane Lindemeier. Lindemeier has a rare form of cancer and needs a stem cell transplant.

"(The organizers) each had our own places where we wanted this to go," Kniveton told the council. "A third of all the proceeds will go to each place."

Kniveton wanted her portion of the money to go to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and be dedicated to non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma research because her family was affected by the disease.

"Linda (Guzman) wanted hers to go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society," Kniveton said. "I called Maryann (Webley) (and asked) if she would partner with me because she had helped me with a project before, and she said, 'Well you know if I do something, I would really like to see some money go to Dane Lindemeier.'"

The group plans to sell shirts and bracelets both days.

The shirts feature the ribbons for Leukemia and non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma awareness, she said. They will have balloons and stickers.

"(The shirts say,) 'Supporting the fighters. Admiring the survivors. Honoring the taken and never, ever giving up hope,'" Kniveton said.

The group started on Friday at Tijuana's Restaurant in Quincy from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. They will be at The Grainery, Akins Harvest Foods, Ace Hardware, Quincy Hardware and Lumber, El Mercado, Super Wash Car Wash and Central Market between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information, contact Kniveton at 509-787-3912.