Knights-Kaderli event remains successful fund-raiser for Orleans County residents fighting cancer
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Two families of friends turned out in full force to support the Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run on Saturday at East Shelby Fire Hall. Gary and Karen Barber of Brockport, at left, and Jay and Julie Mersdorf of Webster pose with children Haley Mersdorf, 8; Kennedy Barber, 6; Paxton Barber, 2; Brooks Barber, 4; and Brett Mersdorf.
EAST SHELBY – The 30th annual Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run will probably be their most successful yet, Sue Knights said Saturday, as she checked the number of participants.
There were 201 runners and walkers who signed up for the event, said Dawn Meland, who volunteered at the registration desk.
“I think people held off when it was raining so hard this morning, but when it stopped, they came out,” she said.
Walkers are off Saturday morning as the gun sounded to start the 30th annual Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run to benefit cancer patients and their families in Orleans County .
The race is named for two Medina residents, Richard Knights and Sue Kaderli, both of whom died of cancer. Each of their families started fundraisers in their names, and then decided to join forces.
Since its inception, the Knights-Kaderli fund has assisted 575 cancer patients and/or their families, Knights said.
“This year alone, we have given $62,000 to help Orleans County residents who are battling cancer,” she said.
These six friends participated in the Knights-Kaderli Run/Walk Saturday as a show of support for several in their church who are fighting cancer. From left are Mary Zangerle, Carol Bellack, Robin Wehling, Jan Toale, Bev Woodward and Judy Hipes.
The annual event brings people from throughout the area, such as the Gary and Karen Barber family of Brockport and the Jay and Julie Mersdorf family of Webster.
Son Brett Mersdorf and Karen ran the race, while Julie, Jay and Gary walked and ran with the younger kids, including Paxton Barber, 2, who pedaled his little kiddie car.
“We would have come rain or shine,” Julie said.
Chris and Stephanie McAdoo pushed their 1-year-old daughter Alana in her stroller in the Knights-Kaderli Walk Saturday morning. They usually run, but Chris has his arm in a sling, so they’ll be a little slower this year, he said.
They also take part in the David Millis Golf Tournament each year at Batavia Country Club, whose proceeds are donated to the Knights-Kaderli Fund, Julie said.
“We started the golf tournament as a little fun thing in honor of our dad, who died of pancreatic cancer,” she said. “In 11 years, it has grown to where we have donated more than $130,000 to the Knights-Kaderli Fund.”
Both Karen and Julie attended Lyndonville school together and when they grew up and heard about the Knights-Kaderli Fund, they liked what they saw, Karen said.
“With the Knights-Kaderli Fund, all the money stays in Orleans County and goes right back to someone who needs it,” she said.
Sue Zinkievich sells raffle tickets to benefit the Knights-Kaderli Fund during the annual walk/run Saturday at East Shelby Fire Hall. At right are Phil Dauria and Shirley Printup.
Debbie Taylor, a member of East Shelby Fire Company, hopes one of her tickets will be a winner in the basket raffle to benefit the Knights-Kaderli Fund. The raffle was part of the annual Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run Saturday at East Shelby Fire Hall.
Three runners pick up their speed as they enter the home stretch in the Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run Saturday.
