BP Cancer Group hits $750K
Gail Dennison, right, and Brenna Gerhart, of the Hormel Institute, react to the donation from the Reed Miller Estate, presented by Jim O’Connor, center. O’Connor and Miller were classmates at Blooming Prairie High School and lifelong friends until Miller’s death in 2022. Staff photo by Kay Fate
To the uninitiated, Blooming Prairie is just another small town on a major highway through southeastern Minnesota.
But for the field of mostly pink flags, all seemingly waving toward Main Street, a typical motorist might notice nothing special.
And to be fair, residents of the town may also take for granted the generosity that flows multiple times a year.
This year, though – it’s time to pay attention.
The town of less than 2,000 celebrated 25 years of raising money for cancer research and support by bringing in three-quarters of a million dollars in donations.
To be exact: $755,000.
“This is truly a group effort,” said Lindsey French, one of the organizers of the BP Cancer Group’s annual fundraiser, which provides multiple ways for people to participate.
“We have 19 amazing members of the Blooming Prairie Cancer Group, and every single person pitched in to help make this event such an incredible success,” she said Monday.
Preliminary numbers from the two nights of auctions, an afternoon of bingo, cash raffle, a color run and more sit at about $95,000.
The estate of BP native Reed Miller, who was 60 when he died of cancer in 2022, added to the eye-popping total with another $660,000.
The donation includes $60,000 for the BP Community Fund, which provides support for cancer patients and their families.
It covers non-medical out-of-pocket costs not covered by insurance; gift cards for gas and parking passes for travel to medical appointments.
Additionally, families receive help with household bills and meals during treatment, thanks to the community fund, and Visa gift cards to defray other expenses.
Per Reed’s wishes, the Miller Estate also donated $100,000 to The Hormel Institute for cancer research; the remaining $500,000 will be distributed between Mayo Clinic, the University of Minnesota’s Masonic Cancer Center, and the American Cancer Society.
The presentations were made by Jim O’Connor, a BP High School classmate and lifelong friend of Miller’s.
What began as a simple auction – mostly between family members – has morphed into an annual, town-wide mobilization to help friends and neighbors.
It is a staggering amount of money for a small community, but to the residents of Blooming Prairie, it really isn't about the data or the records broken.
It is a 25-year promise kept to everyone who ever had to fight.
“It’s just what we do,” French said.