Cousins for a Cure to create sweet treats as a fundraiser for cancer research

The Callaway County Cousins for a Cure Relay for Life team is gearing up for a sweet fundraiser in celebration of Valentine's Day.

Chocolate-covered strawberries will be on sale this week and the proceeds will benefit Relay for Life. Cousins for a Cure will be making white and milk chocolate-covered strawberries and selling them in half and one pound quantities in time for the romantic holiday.

A half-pound box costs $8 and a full pound costs $15. The team asks for requests through its Facebook page - Cousins for a Cure Relay for Life team - Callaway County. Those interested can post to the team's Facebook wall or send a message with their order and address information.

Joy Shawley, the team's co-chair along with her cousin, Christa Daro, said orders have been coming in quick so people need to place their orders as soon as possible. She said the team is almost maxed out for the Feb. 13 delivery, but may consider more orders.

Deliveries will be made to Boone and Callaway counties on Sunday, Feb. 9, and Thursday, Feb. 13. People can also pick up their orders from Moser's at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 9 and Sir Winston's in Fulton at 3:45 p.m. Feb. 13. Westminster College students with orders can pick up their chocolate covered strawberries from the JCI Snack Bar at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 13.

It's the team's biggest fundraiser of the year, Shawley said, and it's already gone beyond last year's amount sold. Shawley said people in Boone and Callaway counties have already placed 125 orders - compared to a total of 95 from last year's fundraiser.

Daro came up with the fundraising idea last year.

"I love chocolate covered strawberries and so many other people do too," she said.

Whether the chocolate covered strawberries are a gift for a significant other, child or any other loved one, Shawley said people can't go wrong.

"Really, who doesn't love chocolate covered strawberries?" Shawley said.

For more information on the fundraiser or about the team, go to its Facebook page by searching "Cousins for a Cure Relay for Life team - Callaway County."