union >> The Annual Red Corner Benefit is returning to Union Township for its 7th year this week.
On Saturday, Oct. 17, the Red Corner Benefit will be opening its gates for yet another worthy endeavor to raise awareness in the fight against childhood cancer.
The non-profit, which began as a yearly fall road trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco Bay area to attend The Bridge School Benefit, the idea spread to the east coast where the Red Corner Benefit was formed to raise awareness for children with cancer. Every year since, the Red Corner Benefit chooses a new child each year who has been diagnosed with some form of childhood cancer to benefit from funds raised by the organization.
This year, the organization has chosen 3-year-old Mikey Buno of Pottstown, who was diagnosed with pre-b cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia on Feb. 16, 2015. Mikey is currently undergoing a 3-year treatment and Red Corner Benefit is looking to raise this year’s funds for his benefit.
Each year, the event includes food, drinks, activities, bonfires and live music. Featured entertainment this year is expected to include Mike Mullin, Emily Brennan, Brook Hedrick and the others, Jonathan Hayes, Tea for 2, Weather Underground, Kyle “Paul” Campion and Doug “The Harpman” Copeland, Hot Beer, Whiskeyhickon Boys and Chestnut Grove. Food will be available from 2 to 8 p.m. with a separate kids food station beginning at the opening. There will also be a beer and wine garden for guests ages 21 and over.
“The new addition we have is the Philadelphia Mobile Zipline and they’re bringing a mechanical bull,” said Tammy Roehrig, one of the founders of the Red Corner Benefit. “This year we’re also going to include a carnival area for the kids.”
Other activities will include face painting, petting zoo and pony rides, magic shows, a sky lantern release and a professional fireworks show after a raffle ending at 7 p.m.
Roehrig explained that in addition to those activities, this year’s benefit with also have an awareness tent with information provided by the families of previous recipients in addition to a donor registry. The benefit’s goal this year is to focus more heavily on awareness.
“Before it was always just to raise funds for the families of children dealing with childhood cancer. Now we’re trying to promote awareness of the statistics and also of different foundations, charities and organizations that donate their funds to help childhood cancer research,” said Roehrig.
Gates will open at noon on Saturday Oct. 17 at 465 Red Corner Road, Douglassville Pa. 19518. Tickets cost $30 and kids 17 and under are free. Food, beverages and entertainment are included in the ticket price.
“It’s an awesome thing we all look forward to,” said Roehrig. “Meeting these kids is just amazing and these kids teach the adults lessons. Every single one of them do. It’s so humbling.”
