Christmas Without Cancer's Queen of Hearts Thursday's Must-See TV

Having to buy a bigger drum for all the Queen of Hearts raffle tickets is a good problem to have.

"People have been so generous, but the suspense has reached a level we never dreamed of," said Gerri Neylon, Christmas Without Cancer founder, who with her organization vice president, Renee Copeland, goes "live" on Facebook for every Thursday night drawing to accommodate those watching from home.

Neylon wouldn't have it any other way.

"We especially prefer our former patients stay home because they are still at risk," said Neylon.

"St. James has done a great job of keeping its number of patrons in check, creating spacing and requiring masks, while at the same time creating a 10-minute show that's fun and exciting to watch from home through Facebook."

St. James Place in Oak Lawn, the family-owned establishment, has hosted Queen of Hearts week after week since the spring, building a large sum - more than $220,000 - earmarked for families fighting cancer. By power of elimination, a single winner would have been named by now, if not for the pandemic that shut down businesses. When the winner is drawn in the next four weeks, half the money raised will be earmarked for local families. The winner receives half and the other half goes for "need" items families fighting cancer.

With only four cards left and the grid numbers down to a select few, this successful campaign will come to a screeching halt. Volunteers have been coming religiously to St. James Place to sell tickets.

"Our volunteers have been so dedicated to this Thursday night crusade, I hope they know how much we appreciate them," said Neylon. "We couldn't have done this without them."
Christmas Without Cancer's mission helps those in Evergreen Park, as well as those in Oak Lawn, Beverly/Morgan Park, Mount Greenwood, Oak Forest, Alsip, Mokena and beyond.

Christmas Without Cancer, an organization started by Neylon, comes to the rescue of those impacted by cancer. The Evergreen Park volunteer group assesses need and pays such things as utility bills and mortgage payments, gas, parking and children in need of wrapped presents.

Copeland has taken the grassroots organization into today's competing arenas in which technology, especially in these strange times, is the commerce of the day.

Meanwhile, from September 19 through September 26, 2020 the 6th Annual Christmas Without Cancer 5K Run/Walk will be conducted "on your honor" to raise funds and begin the season of giving period.

Registration at: https://runsignup.com/Race/IL/AnyCityAnyState/ChristmasWithoutCancer5kRunWalk

Questions on donations and additional information on www.Christmaswithoutcancer.org can be directed to christmaswithoutcancer@gmail.com