Local volunteer Jeanie Carl-Klein spoke with the Sun about her year-round efforts to raise money for cancer research
Nine years ago, Jeanie Carl-Klein witnessed the havoc cancer wreaks not just on a person’s health, but their finances, family and security.
Carl-Klein, who was working at ShopRite at the time, said one of the managers there was diagnosed with breast cancer and went into remission. Four years later, the disease came back with a vengeance. Carl-Klein and her coworkers rallied to put on a fundraiser, but the woman died the day before, leaving behind two young daughters. More than $25,000 was raised from the fundraiser, which went to the woman’s family.
“She was the most bubbly, positive person you could ever want to meet,” Carl-Klein said. “That was really the catalyst that pushed me into doing more.”
Ever since that long-ago fundraiser, Carl-Klein has worked year-round as a one-woman team to organize fundraisers and bring awareness to cancer research, and 2018 is no different. A committee member and team captain on Cinnaminson Relay for Life, she started her foray into Relay with $500 and made it all the way to $5,000 in 2017. This year, after exceeding her 2017 goal by $2,500, Carl-Klein is pledging $10,000.
“I’m at $1,400 so far, so I’m on my way! My fundraising deadline is in September,” she said.
Her biggest and most successful fundraiser, which she is holding this year in collaboration with resident Jim May’s team, Elvis’ Girls Care Too, will have its third annual installment on March 24 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The event, held at Park Tavern in Palmyra, gives participants access to all-you-can-eat wings, fries and meatballs for $20 per person.
May and Carl-Klein will also have a raffle at the Park Tavern with a diverse offering of prizes and a 50/50 raffle. All the proceeds raised will go to Relay for Life of Cinnaminson and the American Cancer Society.
Cinnaminson Relay has 15 teams registered so far, but is always welcoming new ones. The organization holds monthly meetings at the Cinnaminson Community Center, and interested parties can find out more about those meetings at main.acsevents.org.
Cinnaminson Relay for Life is scheduled for Sept. 29, but in the meantime, Carl-Klein and other Cinnaminson teams encourage residents around Burlington County to get involved and donate. Carl-Klein is raising money through Yankee Candle, and has another fundraiser scheduled for May 1 at Rita’s Italian Ice on Cinnaminson Avenue.
For more information on how to donate or get involved, contact Ashley Colone at ashley.colone@cancer.org or Carl-Klein at spiritstwo@aol.com.
