On a beautiful Friday, picnickers gathered at Memorial Park in Fulton to raise funds for a worthy local cause.
Fulton resident Sheila Richards is in her fifth battle with cancer. Four years ago, she had a relapse with lymphoma but had been able to continue her work at Fulton Manor as a registered nurse while receiving chemotherapy. She underwent a stem cell surgery a month ago in St. Louis, leaving her temporarily unable to work.
"I just feel so blessed and thankful that the whole community has just really pulled together to make this a success," Richards said.
Organizer Clara Cannell said all of the volunteers at the fundraiser were Richards' coworkers. All of the proceeds went directly to Richards.
Richards is a survivor of breast and colon cancer and is currently dealing with her second relapse of lymphoma. She hopes to return to her work at the Fulton Manor by October.
"I'm basically waiting for my immune system to rebuild because it's sort of repressed right now," Richards said.
Richards is a wife, a mother of two sons and a grandmother to a 9-month-old grandson. Funds raised at the park will help relieve the financial stress from medical treatments and loss of work time, Cannell said.
"This fundraiser is important to me because she's gave so much through her career that we should give back. She's a good friend of all of ours and mine," Cannell said.
Cannell said the fundraiser had a great turnout throughout the afternoon, and the group hoped to raise $6,000. She added there might be more fundraising events for Richards in the future.
"I'm very proud of the community," Cannell said.