Cut for a Cure

Horns were honking and people were excitedly participating in some Paint the Town Pink activities in Blooming Prairie on Saturday morning.
With a sea of pink flags flying in the wind on a beautify, sunshiny day, workers were feverishly putting together some fundraising ideas as a help to the Blooming Prairie Cancer Group.
The highlights of the weekend, of course, are the two huge cancer auctions on Friday and Saturday nights. Activities near the Field of Flags on Saturday morning also attracted lots of interest and participation.
As the imaginary doors opened to a large tent near the Field of Flags, people began to come in for a $5 haircut, a massage and maybe a face painting.
Barb and John Kraling of The Cutting Edge of BP sponsored their ninth consecutive Cuts for a Cure.
A visitor in the tent this year was Madelaine Stoen, a teenager who lives on the southern end of Dodge County. She is believed to be the longest cancer survivor at 10 years in at least the Blooming Prairie area. Madelaine, 13, was three when she was first diagnosed with cancer.
Madelaine and two friends, Jenna Johnson and Haven Carlson, were selling pot holders, dish rags, headbands, hats, coasters, containers and bracelets that Madelaine had crafted.
While Madelaine was selling her wares, Barb Kraling and her crew were busy cutting hair, painting nails and giving massages.
Kraling also cut off 10 inches of Madelaine's hair at the Saturday night auction to signify celebration of 10 years being cancer free. She also sold key chains she had made and earned $1,305 on that endeavor.
Kraling said her activities netted $1,123 for the BP Cancer Group.
The Blooming Prairie Paint the Town Pink fundraiser raised a record $45,000 during the two-day weekend event. The proceeds will be donated to the Eagle’s Telethon in Rochester in January.