Bowties and Arrows Gala Raising Funds for Cancer Support Programs

(KNSI) – The INDY Foundation is gearing up for its largest annual fundraiser of the year.

The Bowties and Arrows Gala at the Park Event Center in Waite Park on Saturday, March 23rd, is already sold out, but Founder Kayla Keenan says there are plenty of opportunities to be a part of the fun still.

“You can join the after-party. So, starting at 9:30, we will have Mason Dixon Line as our entertainment [and] late-night pizza. If you’re not able to attend at all, you can go online and you can still sign up to bid on our silent auction items.”

The main program will have 550 people in attendance.

The INDY Foundation was born out of experience. “I’m not done yet” was a common saying of Kyle Strand while he was fighting colon cancer. He would become the inspiration for the organization started by his wife, Kayla. Kyle was famous for storing essentials in a backpack that came with him to appointments. She says others battling cancer now get the same support.

“We also have a backpack program. We partner with the Randy Shaver Foundation on that. And what that program is, is it has all the essentials needed for chemotherapy and radiation and we distribute those backpacks to hospitals across the state of Minnesota.”

The group fills 2,000 backpacks a year, used locally at CentraCare facilities.

Keenan says the amount of money it takes to pull that off, in addition to the organization’s other programs, is immense. The goal for this year’s gala is to raise $160,000.

Keenan hopes to hire some full-time staff. Volunteers who have full-time jobs elsewhere exclusively staff the organization now. She says the INDY Foundation is not looking to add any more programs. In addition to the backpacks, INDY recognizes warriors each month, provides emergency support for gas, lodging, and other expenses while in treatment, and Grand View Lodge Thrive, which sets up a person with a stay at the resort in Nisswa to relax and find peace during a stressful time in their life.

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