By noon on Friday, the Pink Pumpkin
Auction committee had calculated that the proceeds from the Thursday
night fundraiser have brought in approximately $33,400 with
additional contributions still coming in. The total includes $20,625
in the live auction, $790 for the luminaria and mystery bag sales,
about $4,000 from the silent auction raffle, $6,000 in corporate
sponsorship donations, and $195 in cash donations made before,
during and after the auction. In addition to this there were
luminaria sold ahead of time that will be added to the grand total
at the end.
The 2026 total far exceeds the total for 2025, though it falls
slightly short of the total for 2024. In all, it was a magnificent
night, with guests opening their wallets and showing their
generosity for the American Cancer Society.
The evening began at 5 p.m. with
the doors opening, guests signing up for their paddles, and enjoying
a plate of food made by Nuthatch Hill BBQ. Then it was into the
large shop area at Collision Concepts where the auto body repair
shop had transformed into a work of art, and tables were decorated
with pink and white clothes, balloons, and of course, adorned with
the many items donated for the live and silent auctions.
This year, the silent auction was done in a new format where guests
bought tickets and then stuffed them into cups at the auction items
they hoped to win. It was the first year for the committee to do the
auction this way, and it went well.
There was a long line gathered for
purchasing tickets, and the committee is already considering how
they can tweak that portion of the evening to help the lines move
faster.
At approximately 6:15 p.m., the
planning committee was called to the front of the live auction
staging area. Those members are (pictured left to right) Jennifer
Luckhart, Cindy Guyett, Devyn Fry, Joli Boerma Crane, Nila Smith,
(2026 Little Miss Findley Farmer) and Karen Castelein. Lesley Bridge
is also on the committee but was heading up the silent auction and
opted to continue working so guests could claim their prizes.
Smith spoke to the audience welcoming everyone and thanking them for
coming. Because there was a record number of live auction items this
year, she said they would not tarry too long. She noted that there
is a pink pumpkin brochure handed to guests as they came in. She
hoped everyone would read through the brochure but also highlighted
some important facts.
In Logan County, the American Cancer Society provided patient
services directly to 175 cancer warriors in 2025. They provided 160
overnight stays for warriors who had to travel for treatment, and in
the first six months of 2026 have provided 14 overnight stays.
She shared that the American Cancer
Society uses 50% of its funding for patient services, dedicates
large chunks to research, and expends only 4% of its annual budget
on management (personnel and overhead) worldwide.
Jennifer Luckhart took the
microphone and said she wanted to introduce some people who were
dear to her and her family. She called Richard and Nichol Sandidge
to come to the front. She explained that Richard is a triumphant
warrior, having battled and beat a rare cancer.
There was also a presentation made to Tonita Reifsteck. Smith
explained that as many knew, Bill Post passed away this year. Post
was a wonderful person with a true heart for the ACS. He had
dedicated decades to the Logan County Relay for Life and committed
himself to specifically collecting names for the annual luminaria
display. At the same time, Tonita Reifsteck spent about the same
number of decades committing herself to honoring cancer survivors.
When Post passed away, Tonita
called the committee and said that she had thought maybe she was
done helping with the annual Pink Pumpkin, but she had decided to
come one more year to sit in Post’s chair and honor deceased
warriors and their families through the collecting of luminaria. She
said she was going to do it this year, then she would be stepping
back with the hopes that others will take up the torch.
Smith asked Reifsteck to leave her
post for a trip to the front, where Karen Castelein presented her
with a bouquet of deep red roses as appreciation for all she has
done through the years for ACS.
Also on the agenda for the
committee was the introduction of the 2026 Little Miss Logan County
Findley Farmer. Miss Findley would be the “Vanna” for the evening,
assisting auctioneers Ty & Cody Tucker by showing off the item up
for bid while the men did their work.
The live auction is always the most
thrilling part of the evening for the committee. The items offered
are top-notch, and almost all of them received high bids, far above
their retail value.
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To highlight a few of those
winning bids. A portable sound system with light shop and
Karaoke capabilities donated by Modern Brake and valued at $400
brought in $700 and was purchased by Brad Long. Two Chicago Bear
game tickets with stocking caps donated by CH Services – Jason
Frawley valued at $1,200 brought in a whopping $2,350, with
Kelly Van Kooten being the winner. Annie Boyer can be counted on
to donate her special baked goods each year. This year she
brought a German Chocolate Cheesecake and a Bourbon Pecan pie.
Tim & Libby Canady with Modern brake purchased the pie for $525
and Annie Boyer and Karen Castelein joined forces to purchase
the cheesecake for $210 collectively.
One of the most fun auctions to
watch was the sale of a basket constructed by the 2024 Little Miss
Logan County Olivia Harsen. Miss Olivia was asked to come help show
her item alongside the 2026 Miss Findley. Miss Olivia’s basket was
filled with her favorite things, cake pops that she likes to make,
crafts that she likes to do, lip balms, and gift cards for Starbucks
and Sorrento’s. The basket was valued at $175, and Miss Findley had
her eye on it. In the crowd Findley’s mom Chynna Farmer was bidding,
but the competition was fierce. When Chynna decided she was done,
Little Miss Findley marched to the back of the room and had a little
talk with mom. Well, mom ended up the winning bidder at $400 and
Little Miss Findley was all smiles.
Another fun auction to watch was of
a sweet little porch goose with an assortment of seasonal outfits
donated by Michelle Bauer and valued at $100. That little goose took
flight as the auction began and moved quickly with several people
throwing up their hands with each bid increase. In the end, Jane
Bryson won the day and the goose with a bid of $800.
At the beginning of the night, Miss
Findley had flipped a special Collision Concepts coin that said
$1,000 on one side and $500 on the other. She landed it on $1,000
and it was announced that the first item that brought $1,000 or
more, Collision Concepts would match the first $1,000. In the
meantime, Lincoln Daily News has developed a habit of matching up to
$1,000 on the pedal tractor that is donated annually by Central
Illinois Ag. This year, the tractor was a limited-edition collector
item celebrating America 250.
The bidding began a little slow, but when guests learned that there
were two matches that could go to the item, it picked up. In the
end, the tractor brought $1,250. Adding the match, the item netted
out $3,250 for the American Cancer Society and was purchased by Don
Peasley.
This is the second year in a row
Peasley has purchased the pedal tractor for his granddaughter Baylor
Ingram.
Again this year, the pink bike
returned to the auction. The bike first debuted in 2023 and each
year since has been donated back to the auction for the next year.
This year, for the fourth time, the bike returned, donated back by
Linda Ray who added a bouquet of flowers in the front basket along
with pink survivor swag. This year the bike was purchased by Robert
Perschell of Hot Frog Designs for $400. On Friday morning, the bike
was back in the office at Lincoln Daily News. The Perschell’s are
donating the bike to the 2027 auction, so hold on folks…the bike
will sell again!
All in all, it was a very good night, filled with good food, fun,
and lots of opportunities to support the American Cancer Society.
Though the auction is held in conjunction with Breast Cancer
Awareness month, the money raised helps serve cancer warriors in
Logan County regardless of what form of the disease they are
fighting. The money raised including the corporate sponsorships and
proceeds from all the activities on the night of the auction is
donated 100% to the American Cancer Society.
Every item sold at the auction is
donated by faithful contributors throughout our community. The
generosity of the donors and the buyers is always amazing, and this
year was no exception.
The committee wishes to thank each and every person, organization or
business that supports this annual event. Your contribution can and
does make a big difference in the future of our local cancer
warriors not only through direct patient services, but also through
funding research that helps get us each day one step closer to the
day when all forms of cancer are curable.
If you have never been to a Pink
Pumpkin Fundraiser Auction, you are cordially invited to join in the
fun in 2027. The Pink Pumpkin is always held on the first Thursday
night in October.
2026 Pink Pumpkin Auction live auction items photo slideshow
2026 Pink Pumpkin Auction live auction photo slideshow part 1
2026 Pink Pumpkin Auction live auction photo slideshow part 2
2026 Pink Pumpkin Auction silent auction raffle items photo
slideshow part 1
2026 Pink Pumpkin Auction silent auction raffle items photo
slideshow part 2
2026 Pink Pumpkin Auction Did We See You There? photo slideshow part
1
2026 Pink Pumpkin Auction Did We See You There? photo slideshow part
2
[Nila Smith]
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