Lasagna cook-off raises $750 to fight cancer

In just two short hours, Tennessee Oncology and River Park Hospital teamed up Monday and raised $750 for the non-profit organization Multi-County Cancer Support Network through a lasagna cook-off.

“It exceeded what we had ever hoped,” Jill Palmer of Tennessee Oncology said. “It was an incredible amount of money and participation.”

With over 25 entries into the lasagna, bread and dessert divisions, participants had plenty to choose from when purchasing their $5 plates. “It was all so good,” Palmer said.

There were three separate food categories with Palmer taking first in two of three of the categories. “I am Italian and we just know how to cook,” she giggled.

Winners in the lasagna division were Palmer in first place, Sarah Nokes in second and Paula Burks in third. Dessert winners were Palmer in first place with a chocolate raspberry brownie, Nokes in second with a fruit cocktail cake, and third was Brenda West with a fresh strawberry cake. Bread winners were Sharon Webb in first place, Sandra Petzoldt in second, and Shirley Cummings in third.

The judges at Monday’s event were James Bond, Kathleen Shelton, Sharon Walker, Pinkney Whaley, Bill Webb, Jane Flatt and Alice Saine.

Multi-County Cancer Support Network is an organization that has made it easier for local families dealing with cancer since 1992. Multi-County aids cancer patients in eight area counties, including Warren County. Palmer said the Multi-County Cancer Support Network has helped with over $17,000 in aid for Warren County cancer patients.

“There are so many unexpected expenses they are going through,” Palmer said. “They need help with electric, groceries, rent, dental work or anything that makes their lives easier while they are going through this with cancer. They just do a great job. They help if they can’t work or even if they can.”

Palmer and Tennessee Oncology hope to have a similar type fundraiser for the Multi-County organization in late winter with chili being the main dish. They also hope to combine efforts with River Park Hospital.

“River Park Hospital is really the one that made this happen,” Palmer said. “They were such a great bunch to sponsor us and everything we needed, they provided.”