The organizer of the Candlelighters Online auction is again blown away with the outcome of the campaign. The auction is an annual fundraiser in support of the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Support Group.

Since the inaugural year in 2012, the total raised has jumped significantly.  $3,200 was raised in 2012, this year's grand total was $34,000.

Organizer Naomi Fehr said she keeps track of all items that come in, so she has a very good idea of where they're at with each bid.  "Once we hit the $30,000 mark, my

Lego was one of the many activities at the 2016 Family Campmind was blown...it happens to me every year, I'm blown away.  I think how can we possibly beat last year?  And every year we keep beating it and beating it."

Fehr said the success of the fundraiser is proof awareness is getting out.  She said in 2012 not very many people had heard of the support group, and that's changing.  She said a number of the parents, as well as herself, are quite vocal about the group, and people are getting excited about the auction.  "I heard it the other day when I was in line somewhere," said Fehr.  "I heard some young guys in front of me talking about this auction, and I thought that was pretty cool."  

The money raised goes toward the organization's various programs and events, all supporting families with children who have had cancer, or going through it.  

The main event for Candlelighters is an annual family camp for about 25 to 30 families, all expenses paid. The organization also provides parking passes for the cancer ward at the hospital, and recently they began providing care packages for recently diagnosed families.

Fehr said when they first started fundraising they only put on one event a year.  They now run about six programs/events.  Fehr said most of the programs connect families to other families who have kids with cancer.  "It breaks free of the isolation that families who have a child with cancer end up in...it actually becomes a family of people who all understand what each other is going through."

426 items were donated for this year's online auction.
 

Fehr said she is very thankful to everyone who supported the cause in any way.

The following shows how the number of funds raised has grown since the online auction began.

2012 - $3,200
2013 - $6,800
2014 - $9,000
2015 - $18,000
2016 - $26,000
2017 - $34,000