'Savor the Basin' raises money for cancer foundation

MOSES LAKE - Wine and beer combined with a good cause at the first Savor the Basin fundraiser for the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation.

Director Angel Kneedler said she won't know until midweek how much money was raised for the organization, but the turnout was encouraging.

Wineries from throughout the region, and a couple breweries, brought samples of their products. The booths were manned by winery employees or in some cases volunteers like Cindy McClure.

McClure said she volunteered because the cancer foundation is an important resource for people going through cancer treatment. "They were there for me," she said, during her treatment for breast cancer.

"The people are kind and they're very warm," McClure said, which is important when someone is battling cancer. "When you're going through something like that, you can't get enough support," she said.

McClure said she had insurance, but the foundation helped her with expenses like gas cards for transportation. Jay Ballinger, who is a member of the foundation's board, said that's the foundation's goal, to help local people with those challenges that aren't covered by insurance. "That's the part that sometimes slips through the cracks."

Ballinger has gone the route; he got very bad news from the doctors in fall 2006. Put things in order, is how they put it," he said.

Five years later, he said his advice for cancer patients would be to take advantage of the support network out there. "Be aware there are a lot of people around to help. And let them help."

The foundation is part of that network, he said, and so are organizations like the American Cancer Society. "Hang in there. There are a lot of people who are willing to help out," he said.

Participating wineries included Kyra Wines, Neppel Cellars, Camas Cove Cellars and Sno Road Winery, Moses Lake; Beaumont Winery and White Heron Cellars, Quincy; Foxy Roxy Wines, Othello; Ginko Forest Winery, Mattawa, Cashmere Cellars, Cashmere and Milbrandt Vineyards, Prosser.

Participating breweries included St. Brigid's Brewery and Ten Pin Brewery, both of Moses Lake. Food was provided by the Pillar Rock Grill.