38th annual Knights-Kaderli walk/fundraiser set for Saturday in East Shelby
File photo by Tom Rivers: A group walks down East Shelby Road on Oct. 7, 2023 for the 35th annual walk/run for the Knights-Kaderli Fund. The Knights and Kaderli families estimate that more than $2 million has been used from the fund since it was established, helping cover some of the utilities, co-pays and other bills for people fighting cancer in Orleans County.
EAST SHELBY – The Knights-Kaderli Walk/Fundraiser will take place for the 38th year on Saturday at East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company.
The charity was formed when two families who had lost loved ones to cancer decided to merge their separate fundraisers into one, and the Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run was born.
The event honors the memory of Richard Knights and Sue Kaderli, both of whom died of cancer. Since its inception, the charity has raised and given away $2 million to cancer patients undergoing treatment and their families in Orleans County, said Melissa Bertrand, Knights’ daughter who chairs the event.
Bertrand stressed that every penny raised or donated to the fund is given away. There are no administrative costs.
Saturday’s event will feature the walk/run, which Bertrand describes as “a big country walk,” beginning at the fire hall on East Shelby Road and continuing a mile to East Shelby Community Church, where it turns east on Barber Road for a mile, then north on Town Line Road, back to Hemlock Ridge and the fire hall.
Registration for the walk and sale of tickets for the basket raffle begin at 9:30 a.m., with the walk beginning at 11 a.m. Basket raffle tickets will be sold until 1:30 p.m. A special raffle will feature Buffalo Bills and Sabres items.
Lunch will also be served, and those who spend $20 (either in walk sponsorships or raffle tickets) at the event will receive free lunch.
The walk and basket raffle are the charity’s biggest fundraisers, Bertrand said. Other fundraising during the year includes a chicken barbecue in June and a memorial golf tournament.
Donations to the fund are received from memorials or bequests from wills. Anyone may donate on Venmo@KnightsKaderli or by sending a check to Richard Knights and Sue Kaderli Fund, P.O. Box 684, Medina, or on the Knights Kaderli website by credit card.
As a special tribute to the late Dave Green, this year’s walk will be dedicated to him.
“He did so much to support our charity and the community,” Bertrand said.
In Green’s honor, volunteers this year will be given green shirts with Dave’s initials in the middle.
“He was such a good guy and a loyal follower,” Bertrand said.
Bertrand thanks the community for its continued support.
“I always marvel at what a small community can do to raise money for those in need,” she said.
Volunteers will be at East Shelby Fire Hall from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday to accept baskets from anyone who wishes to donate one.
Key administrators of the Knights-Kaderli Fund are Bertrand (Knight’s daughter), president; Mary Zelazny (Kaderli’s daughter), vice president; and Sue Knights (Richard’s widow), who handles accounting and acknowledgments.
