Local Firefighters Join Auction To Benefit Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Firefighters from throughout the state are once again coming together to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma society. People in the community are invited to support their efforts.

Whether you need help with storm debris cleanup, basic yard work or a community event – or simply want a hot date – the 2012 Light My Fire Auction is a fun and tax-deductible way to get what you desire and to support LLS at the same time.

Silent and live auction winners donate directly to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. That means 100 percent of funds raised go to fight blood cancers. The benefit for LLS brings in $6,000 to $12,000 each year.

“The firefighting community puts on a top-notch event – great people, amazing auction items, great entertainment – the fun factor couldn’t be higher. The icing on the cake is that it’s all for a good cause,” said Christian McLendon, owner of Oddfellas, where the auction will be hosted. Firefighters from throughout the state volunteer their time for the event.

Winners in the live auction gain either four hours of labor from one or more firefighters or a four-hour date from an individual firefighter. There’s also a silent auction with everything from white-water rafting trips and baseball paraphernalia to fire station dinners and wine-tasting parties to trapeze and cooking lessons.

One lucky guest will even win a “Desperate Housewives Party” with a group of firefighters from the 2012 Firefighter Calendar, sponsored by the Washington State Council of Firefighters Burn Foundation. Firefighters featured in the calendar also will be on hand to sign the 2012 calendar.

“These firefighters are amazing – many of them volunteer for the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb, which this even traditionally follows – and then give even more for this auction,” said event coordinator Linda Kent of Professional Union Firefighters.

The party starts when doors open for Light My Fire at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 31. It’s in the Rainier Room above Oddfellas at 102 W. Main in Auburn.

Entry is a $30 donation for an individual and a $50 donation for a couple. Online tickets are available at: http://wa.support.llsevent.org/lightmyfire. Included is a great dinner, a drink and 10 raffle tickets. The event also includes a full night of entertainment, featuring classic rock band 3rd Degree Burn, drink specials, and the chance to meet firefighters featured in the 2012 Firefighter Calendar, some of whom are volunteering as individual auctionees. The band starts rockin’ as soon as the auction closes.

“We ensure all of our guests who come out to support Light My Fire have a fabulous time because we really appreciate the support for LLS,” Kent said. “That way, you get something back right away at this event – other than future help with chores or dates with firefighters, tax deductions and excellent silent auction items.”

Kent said there’s still time for people and businesses in the community to get involved with Light My Fire via volunteering and donating.

New this year is the opportunity for businesses and individuals in the community to become table sponsors. Cost is $250 to “buy” a table. Sponsors can choose to send people to the auction to fill the table or simply set up a sponsor display and let other attendees sit at the table.

“Participating in Light My Fire is an excellent way to get good publicity, earn goodwill in the community and achieve a tax deduction,” Kent said. “Not to mention you are marketing to the steadily-employed firefighting community and its supporters.”

The auction traditionally follows the annual Scott Firefighter Stair Climb. The climb brings more than 1,500 firefighters from fire departments around the world to raise money to fight blood cancers. This year’s firefighter climb is on March 11. This year, firefighters from 27 U.S. states, Canada and New Zealand will climb 69 floors – or 1,311 stairs – in this fund-raising effort.

Beth Rosapepe, Campaign Manager for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Washington chapter, said fund-raising for the society is vital.

“Each and every donation – no matter how large or small – is essential in helping to raise money to fund lifesaving research and support patients and their families,” Rosapepe said.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. Its mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since 1949, the Society has invested more than $550.8 million for research specifically targeting blood cancers.

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Get your tickets for Light My Fire at http://wa.support.llsevent.org/lightmyfire