Daily Chronicle | Breast cancer targeted during Ladies Night Out ...

SYCAMORE ? Dawn Sukach initially planned to host a fundraiser in her downtown Sycamore store to honor her mother, a longtime breast cancer survivor.

Eight years later, what?s become known as the Ladies Night Out breast cancer fundraiser spans across downtown Sycamore with more than 70 vendors participating.

?The first year, we planned the entire thing in six weeks,? said Sukach, who owns D&D Jewelers with her husband, Don Sukach.

Last year?s event raised more than $10,000, half of which went to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the other half to the American Cancer Society. This year, funds will go to the American Cancer Society and The Cancer Center at Kishwaukee Community Hospital.

?We wanted to find a way to keep money local,? Dawn Sukach said. ?We have so many customers and friends who have been affected.?

?It?s been such a great community effort,? Don Sukach said.

Jessica Kundert, a representative from the American Cancer Society, said one in eight women will be diagnosed with cancer in her lifetime, and one in every two women will be helped by the American Cancer Society. Donated funds go toward research and patient services.

Vendors sold items and food, and some gave massages to raise money. The Sycamore Firefighters Local 3046 raised donations by hosting a Hug-A-Hunk booth, where firefighters gave out hugs for $1.

Several blocks of downtown were flooded with people wearing pink shirts, including Sycamore resident Colleen Stover, who made a trip Thursday to Ladies Night Out for the second time. She said she wanted to support people who have breast cancer because she knows a few people who have died from it.

?I think it?s one of the best things Sycamore?s ever done,? she said.

Thursday also was the second year Paula Evans set up a vending table for Ladies Night Out. She co-owns Franklin Frames and Art in Sycamore and handed out pink impatiens under the theme ?be impatient for a cure.?

As a five-year breast cancer survivor, Evans said she wanted to give back by participating in Ladies Night Out.

?We believe the community?s what?s driving us. We try to help out as much as we can,? she said. ?We just need to make people more aware.?

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