Local fundraiser brings in over $11,000 for childhood cancer camp

By Courtney Elisech

BAY CITY – The parking lot was full at the Monitor Township Hall the evening of Oct. 15 as everyone partied inside at the Family Fun Night. This is an annual fundraiser in Bay City that benefits Special Days Camps, the second longest-running oncology camp in the world. 

The fundraiser came back for the first time since the pandemic hit, and it came back with a bang! As of right now, over $11,000 has been raised. The total keeps growing as there is a Facebook fundraiser for those who could not come.

The township hall was decked out in Halloween décor and giant inflatable skeletons. Children were dancing by the DJ booth as colorful lights strobed around them.

“We were set up for 184 and most of the seats are taken,” said Bobbi Gellise, who began the fundraiser after her daughter, Jodi Rugutt, was diagnosed with cancer and her family got to experience the camp.

A final headcount was nearly impossible, as tickets were sold at the door, and children under five had free admission.

Children dressed as witches, ninjas, Barney, and more had fun running around and dancing. Adults mingled together while enjoying a warm meal of spaghetti or pursuing possible prizes. A euchre tournament got started midway through the night.

On top of the food and fun were chances to win prizes. A silent auction was held with a vast variety of items from handmade crafts and toys to gift baskets and booze.

“Throughout the year we shop a lot of clearance racks and seek support throughout the community,” said Amy Geyer. She is on the fundraiser committee and the Board of Directors at Special Days Camps.

A fall-themed photo booth was set up with a photographer at the ready. The pictures will be sent through the mail to the people in the shot.

A never-ending line formed for the balloon artist and Delta College Alumni, Terry Thomas. A retired RN from Bay City who has worked as a balloon artist for 40 years. He has traveled all over the world putting on a show and creating wild balloon characters.

The event was sponsored by many local businesses including Bay City Noon Optimist, Huntley’s Clubhouse, Ambrose Squires Funeral Home, The Fence Gurus, Tri-City RV, McLaren Bay Region, Thrivent, Outdoor Adventure, and many more. All prizes were also donated as well as the space in the building, food, drinks, music, and more. This list does not include the numerous cash donations.

Nikki Smith was the very first camper at Special Days Camps in 1979 when she was 12 years old. She is now the Vice President of the camp’s Board and attended this event with her husband and grandson. 

“I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone that is here today, for everyone on the committee that made this happen,” Smith said. “I am so blessed to be a part of this incredible program. It reaches out to families with childhood cancer, and also siblings. We hope to have camp until there is a cure, that’s our goal. Thank you to everyone for all that you do, you make camp a great place for so many.”

The original group that started the event was four sisters: Bobbi Gellise, Amy Geyer, Patti Krenz, and Cherri Burzynski. Cathleen Schell is a friend of the family who joined the fundraiser committee when her son was diagnosed with cancer. They divide and conquer to complete tasks for the fundraiser all year long.

“Our kids used to dance together,” Gellise said about Schell. “She remembers me going through it with Jodi, so when her son got sick several years later it gave her hope that everything was okay.”

Schell shared that the fundraiser is in the fall because the camp has struggled to fund its winter camp session.

“We decided since we had family and friends in this area of the state,” Geyer began. “We would put on a fundraiser here to support a great cause when the funds were needed to complete camp.”

The committee will divide and conquer to complete tasks for the fundraiser all year long.

Gellise’s daughters Ruggatt and Traci Gabow were both campers who went on to be staff at Special Days.

Something unique to the camp is the siblings’ program which allowed the sisters to both experience the camp differently. The first week of camp is just for siblings, and the second is for the child who has or has had cancer. Each child will get a week with attention focused solely on them.

Most campers come back every year and have formed great friendships. It costs around $1,000 to send one child to camp and every single camper receives a full or partial scholarship. Many can come to camp at no cost thanks to donations.

The Family Fun Night fundraiser has raised over $75,000 since it began in 2003, shared Smith. Around the same time next year, the fundraiser will be back!