STURGIS, SD – When a diagnosis of stage 3 cancer is made, it leaves a family in shock – struggling to treat the disease while still needing to make a living. Chad and Amanda Cordell of Sturgis are among such people.
Friends are putting on the “Bucking Cancer Fundraising Auction For Chad Cordell,” Sat., Oct. 1 at the Sturgis Armory on main street in Sturgis. There is a live and silent auction, raffle ticket sales for an Onward2 Club Car, cash bar and music.
Adam Karrels, Sturgis, along with Justin Tupper, St. Onge, will be handling the auctioneering duties.
“We’ve got all kinds off items,” he says. “There are construction packages, a bear hunt, a South Africa hunt, guns, multiple gift baskets, a stay at Spearfish Lodge, an Adventure Snowmobiling Package – there’s something for everyone.”
He adds, “We also have a new golf cart we are selling raffle tickets for. And if golfing isn’t your thing and you win, there is $9,000 coming your way.”
The evening begins with a silent auction at 6:00p.m. and the live auction to follow at 7:30p.m. A Halloween Theme is part of the fun for the evening.
Chad grew up in the St. Onge/Camp Crook area. The 37-year-old works at St. Onge Livestock.
“He was working there and has been for around 11 years,” shared Karrels. “Doing all kinds of cowboying – sorting, moving and feeding cattle. And not just at the sale barn. He helped Justin and others out on pasture, moving and working cows. He’s just a good cowboy.” His wife Amanda is a registered nurse at Monument Health in Sturgis and previously worked at the Sturgis Veterinary Clinic.
Chad was diagnosed this past July with rare, stage 3 metastatic bladder cancer. Currently Chad is receiving aggressive Chemotherapy and is unable to work at this time. They have completed 5 out of 6 Chemo treatments and are planning for him to have surgery at Mayo in the near future.
“I have to say,” says Karrels, “the communities of Sturgis, Belle Fourche, St. Onge and surrounding areas have really pitched in. There are a lot of people helping. You never know when it could happen to you.”
There is an Events Page on Facebook. Search for “Bucking Cancer Fundraising Auction For Chad Cordell.” Auction items are listed there under the “Discussion” tab. When purchasing auction items at the event, organizers ask that cash, check or Venmo be used when possible. There is a credit card option with a 4% charge.
If unable to attend the Saturday night auction, donations are being taken at First Interstate Bank in Sturgis. A Venmo barcode is also posted on the Events Page to scan and make a donation. There is also a Go Fund Me page where donations are being accepted.
“Along with my wife Amanda, others helping to organize the event are Dr’s. Joy Mueller, Connie Stock, and Jodi Davis; Kris Legner PA, Registered Nurses Erin Williams and Pilar Bruch, all who are from the Monument Health Sturgis Hospital and Clinic,” says Karrels.
“Family friends Forest Sainsbury, Thane Tetrault, and multiple others are also helping to organize the auction. We need a lot of handson deck for this one.”
