It was the 42nd annual CBC Radio Telethon.
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MANISTIQUE -- In these tough financial times, it's more important now more than ever to support local charities and non-profit organizations. And that's just what people in Schoolcraft County did Sunday.
It was the 42nd annual CBC Radio Telethon. On Sunday, they raised $30,083.
Gene Fletcher, 14, of Delta County has cerebral palsy and scoliosis, but that doesn't stop him from having fun each summer at the Bay Cliff Health Camp, a therapy center and recreational camp for the handicapped.
"It’s so much fun and there's so much there," said Gene.
Bay Cliff helps out so many kids and adults, but they also need help. That's where the CBC Radio Telethon in Manistique comes in.
"The radio telethon raises funds for support for American Cancer Society, services that they offer in the area, for Bay Cliff Health Camp and the Easter Seals Society of Michigan," said CBC Co-Chair George Ecclesine.
Volunteers took pledges, collected bids for items in the silent auction, and performed on stage.
Over the last 41 years, CBC has raised over $1.3 million. Just last year alone, each charity was given $14,000.
"A lot of the money that we get here goes for research,” said Becky Carey with the American Cancer Society. “It also goes for education programs and prevention programs, and we try to get a little bit of advocacy and some service here in Schoolcraft County."
As for Gene, he's so inspired by everyone else helping out, they he's starting his own fund-raiser for Bay Cliff.
"He's going to ride his wheelchair from Rapid River, Michigan all the way up to Bay Cliff on Lake Superior and it's going to take four days," said Gene’s father, Mike Fletcher.
Fore more on Gene’s campaign, click here. For CBC information, click here.
