Scavenger hunt aims to raise funds for cancer relief

Everybody loves a scavenger hunt, so search your attic, scrounge around in your garage and poke around under the stuff piled up behind the shed or in your fencerows, because any realty sign used by the Curtis and Sons Realty Company since it was first founded in 1948 is worth a $10 donation to the Vernon County Cancer Relief Fund.

That's right, for the next week, Curtis and Sons Realty will donate the money in the name of the person bringing in the sign no matter how old it is or where it came from. It just has to be one of their signs. Monte Curtis of Curtis and Sons says he has no idea how many signs are out there in the area. "There are about 50 around town right now, but over the years there have been hundreds of them," he said.

Curtis said his wife Linda's diagnosis and the recent loss of a family friend prompted him to do something for the organization which serves the immediate needs of the residents of Vernon County who are fighting cancer. "This is a good cause and a lot of people don't know it is there," Curtis said.

Mike Turnbull, president of the VCCRF board of directors agrees.

A lot of people don't make the distinction between the VCCRF and the American Cancer Society, he said. The two organizations are not affiliated. The ACS is a nationwide society that not only helps victims of cancer but donates huge sums of money to cancer research. The VCCRF is a strictly local group whose sole mission is to offer what ever assistance they can to people in this county.

Turnbull noted that there may be more signs come in than Curtis bargained for, and then there's the idea that people will be taking them out of the yards of homes that are currently on the market, but Curtis said he hopes so, and that's OK. "I don't care what condition they're in," he said, "I think they can use the money."

Curtis said this fundraising effort is important to him and to the community because cancer touches the life of everyone. Everybody knows somebody that has either had cancer or been affected by it in some way, he said.

The people in the Vernon County community are what VCCRF is all about. No matter what form of cancer is involved or what the social status of the victim is, "We reach out with three things: love, hope and concern, and that doesn't have anything to do with anyone's pocketbook," said Turnbull

Curtis said it "was just a crazy, wild idea; a way to help other than just making a donation. He is interested to see some of the signs as they come in. He did caution against bringing in the signs of other area realtors. "They may not have a sense of humor about it," he said.

The new signs that come from homes on the market will be put back. And anyone that has a sign but can't get it to the Curtis and Sons office can call and they will come and pick the sign up and donate the $10 in the caller's name. Curtis said he, "hopes this sets the pace for the group's annual August fundraiser.

The scavenger hunt will begin on Wednesday, April 14, and signs will be accepted through the close of business on Wednesday, April 21. Signs can be dropped off at the Curtis and Sons Realty office at 121 S. Main Street, Nevada or those needing signs picked up may call (417) 667-7868.

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