Pumpkin patch activities to raise money for cancer Sunday

• Tweet
• 

Corn Maze for a Cure will use autumn activities to raise money for breast cancer education and research.

From 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday at Papa’s Pumpkin Patch, 3909 S. Summerton Road, participants will have the opportunity to do activities with prizes involved. A percentage of the proceeds will go to the Susan G. Komen For the Cure Foundation.

“We’re expecting a pretty big turnout to generate a lot for the foundation, and that would be really awesome,” said Romeo junior Gretchen Wilt, one of the organizers of the event.

The event is being organized as an assignment for RPL 430: Planning Recreation Programs and Events.

Wilt said the activities will include a corn maze with a scavenger hunt, pumpkin painting, a hayride and making caramel apples.

“There will also be a raffle drawing, so we have prizes like pizza, a movie night, bowling, different dinners at places like Fazoli’s and others,” Wilt said.

The corn maze has six stations, each with numbered breast cancer ribbons, Wilt said. Participants with all six ribbons at the end of the event will receive a T-shirt.

“The person with the best painted pumpkin is going to receive a free art class from Art Reach downtown,” Wilt said.

Belding senior Caitlin Regan said participating in the corn maze will cost $7.50, but parents are able to accompany their children and do not have to pay if they do not want to participate.

“We sent a bunch of flyers at the beginning of September and a little reminder flyer this past week, gearing more toward community members and families in Mount Pleasant,” Regan said. “Some college students might be interested in coming, but probably mostly family members, so we’re hoping to get a good turnout.”

Regan said the Komen Foundation is something she is passionate about.

“Actually, I’m walking in the three-day breast cancer walk at the end of October before Halloween. I’m flying to Tampa to do the walk with my mom and my little sister,” Regan said. “The reason we are walking is because my aunt passed away from breast cancer and my other aunt is a survivor.”

Regan said she needs to raise $2,300 to participate in the walk and the event on Sunday would help her reach her goal.

Oxford junior Jesse Hayes said the group had been planning the event since the first week of classes.

“We have worked very hard, basically nonstop since we got the assignment,” she said.

Hayes said she hopes for good weather on Sunday.

“I’m very excited about it,” she said. “This is what I want to do for my career, plan events, so I’m hoping this is a good stepping-off point.”