Community Corner
Fight Leukemia: Bandana Bash 2011
This weekend event, which originated in Wildwood, focuses on finding bone marrow donors and raising funds to support that cause.
Dash to a bash! It’s more than just a weekend food and music event. Bandana Bash 2011 also celebrates the life and legacy of West Countian Todd Zick, whose fight to find a cure for leukemia continues.
Zick, who was diagnosed with the disease while still in college, succumbed to leukemia in 2010. In his short life, he organized Leukemia 24/7, and personally began bone marrow drives in Wildwood, Ballwin, St. Louis and Springfield.
His family and friends continue his efforts with the TTIF (Thank Todd It’s Friday) portion of the Bash, which runs Friday and Saturday, Sept. 9-10, at , at Clayton and Strecker Roads in Wildwood.
Find out what's happening in Eureka-Wildwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
But organizers won’t let the serious reason for the event detract from the fun. Festivities start Friday at 5 p.m. with a barbecue and music by Sum Odd Reason, followed by bingo at 7 p.m. The celebration continues all day Saturday, including a pancake breakfast beginning at 8 a.m., and a Texas Hold ‘Em tournament at 4 p.m. Also beginning at 4 p.m. is “The Pig Event,” featuring music by The Customers, Mark Mobeck and Boogie Chyld, along with a menu of pulled pork, chicken breasts, turkey breasts, salad, baked beans and dessert. Other events include silent and live auctions and raffles.
Also at the event will be representatives from DKMS, the world’s largest database for bone marrow donors. Becoming a bone marrow donor is as simple as filling out the consent and registration forms and submitting a simple cheek swab. Any healthy person between the ages of 18 and 55, who weighs at least 110 pounds and has a maximum body mass index less than 40 is encouraged to register in the database.
Find out what's happening in Eureka-Wildwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Leukemia 24/7, the organization founded by Zick, has raised more than $40,000 for local cancer charities and registered more than 5,000 potential bone marrow donors.
Donors are still needed for the auction and raffles. For information on the event or how to donate, call 314-276-7440 or go to the event's website.
Editor's Note: Please return to Eureka-Wildwood Patch to see Jo Beck's coverage of this event.