Friends of Steph Raise Funds to Fight Breast Cancer

Steph Lesiecki worked at for 10 years.  During the time she worked at the store, known for its brats and meats, she battled breast cancer.

Lesiecki started a breast cancer fundraiser while working at the store and though she died from her illness three years ago, the folks at Kreger’s continue her mission of raising funds to find a cure for breast cancer.

Today, "The Friends of Steph Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser" will be held at the store, which will include food, music and, according to the store’s owner, a lot of fun. 

About eight years ago a fundraiser started at the store with a can on counter to collect change, said Bill Kreger, the store’s owner. Then about four years ago it turned into an event. Each year the event gets bigger and support grows.

“It just turns out to be a great thing,” he said. “All of the money goes to research and awareness.” 

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the store will be offering free bratwurst during the fundraiser. The brats will be free, but a donation is requested. The brats normally sell for $6. Along with the brats there will be chili, chips, soda and pie. There will be live music from the Wright Street Band. And, Mickey and Minnie Mouse are expected to make a visit.

Kreger donates all of the food for the event and the band performs for free, he said. That means all of the money that is raised during the event goes to research and specifically to the doctor who treated Lesiecki so that she may continue to conduct research.

He said he has no expectation for how much will be raised this year.

“In this economy we are just doing it because I think it’s really important,” Kreger said, “It’s our cause it’s what we are going for.” 

He said that Lesiecki championed the cause and he wants to continue to do the same in her honor, adding that he could do a fundraiser for any number of cancers, but has continued to make breast cancer the store’s cause. If researchers can find a cure for one form of cancer, he said, there will be cures for other forms.

During the month of October the store is also holding silent auctions and a meat raffle with those funds also going toward research. The auction items vary from running gear from to a basket of spices worth more than $100 to beer from Two Brothers Brewery. The grand prizewinner of the meat raffle will win an entire beef loin. There will also be HoKa turkeys and hams raffled off.

To learn more about the event visit Kreger’s Facebook page. The Friends of Steph Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kreger’s Central Food, 605 N. Ellsworth St.