Cookin' On The Creek Set For March 17 In Cartersville

From Cartersville Medical Center: Cookin’ on the Creek, an annual BBQ tasting event located on beautiful Pettit Creek in Cartersville, is scheduled for Saturday, March 17 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. The event benefits local cancer patients treated at The Hope Center at Cartersville Medical Center by funding patient and caregiver resources.

When Freddie Gunn’s late wife, Sandra, was diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma, he saw first-hand the challenges and needs of cancer patients. “Dr. William Thoms (former radiation oncologist at The Hope Center), encouraged me to consider supporting local patients through The Hope Center Foundation,” said Gunn. Since that time, we’ve supported the Foundation and the event has continued to grow, from $1,800 the first year to $40,000 last year.” Gunn says the main reason for the partnership is that the Foundation provides support through items not covered by any other means for patients going through treatment (gas, food supplements and transportation). “Also, 100% of the proceeds go directly to local patients in the Cartersville/Bartow County area,” said Gunn.

During the event, over 25 of the South’s top competition professional barbecue teams as well as local backyard grill teams will compete in various categories for awards. Attendees, with a donation of only $10 for adults or $5 for children ages 5-12, will have the opportunity to sample some of the best barbecue concoctions in the region.

“This is our 8th Cookin’ on the Creek,” said John Hale, event organizer. “This began as a friendly warm up for a few competition BBQ guys in the community and we decided it would be a great way to raise a little money with all the food that was cooked. Freddie (Gunn) and I had a conversation about possibly working on a BBQ fund raising event for the Gunn's and Roses Relay for Life Team. Within a few months, the event was moved to The Gunn Complex and ‘Cookin’ on the Creek’ was formed.”

Located on the Gunn family property at 35 Lipscomb Circle in Cartersville, the event will feature unlimited barbecue sampling from noon until 3 p.m. (while supplies last), along with live entertainment by Morgan Taylor and The Old Mill Road Band, grill demonstrations and the BBQ competition. Tickets will be sold for raffle items including an electric smoker, tool chest and cabinet, gas fire table, recliner, smoker/grill, kayak, shotgun, pistol and more.

Parking and an event shuttle service provided by Bartow County Transit will be available at The Hope Center, 100 Market Place Blvd., Cartersville (across from Wal-Mart) from 10:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Organizers encourage attendees to use the shuttle service, bring a chair, enjoy great food and live music, and visit with the cook teams. “While it is a great time to visit with friends and enjoy some great food and entertainment, what I like to see most are survivors who have been through treatment and return each year to the Creek,” said Hale. “We know cancer is something that can be very devastating to families and individuals. This is a time we get to celebrate the strides in research and support and encourage those still in treatment. Most people in the world have been affected by cancer and we think it is critical for each of them to know they are loved and supported. Cookin’ on the Creek allows us to do that.”

Committee member Shelia Mills is thankful for the many local merchants and businesses who support the event through monetary and/or merchandise and services donations. “The main reason I do this is in memory of my sister, Sandra. Cancer patients need to focus on getting well and shouldn’t have to worry about expenses not covered by insurance, transportation and special diets required throughout treatment. The businesses and our community have been generous; everyone loves that the money we raise goes directly to local patients,” said Mills.

A true community effort, the event is organized solely by volunteers, including the Boy Scouts, who assist with parking, and athletes from Cass High School who assist the BBQ teams with set up, take down and trash pickup.

Tickets will be available at the gate on the day of the event. For more information about Cookin on the Creek, visit the “Cookin on the Creek” Facebook page or call Hale at 404-644-1213 or Gunn at 678-873-4407. For more information about services provided at The Hope Center, please call 678-721-5555 or visit CartersvilleMedical.com.

Images via Cartersville Medical Center