MOSES LAKE — The 4-H Building at the Grant County Fairgrounds was alive with activity Saturday night as 350 people came to enjoy the annual Country Sweethearts banquet and auction. The event raised over $124,000 for the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation, according to the foundation’s executive director, Angel Kneedler.

The Country Sweethearts banquet began with a social hour (actually, closer to two hours) featuring hors d’oeuvres and wine and beer while potential buyers browsed through the many items available for the silent auction. Ten Pin Brewing Company had taps set up to dispense their signature beers. In addition, attendees could have their photo taken on a stack of hay bales by Feller Orthodontics or their shoes shined by Peter Steffens of Moses Lake, who had a shoeshine stand set up by the entrance.

Dinner was catered by Michael’s On The Lake and boasted baron of beef, roasted chicken, parmesan mashed potatoes and the usual salad, veggies and rolls. Wine at the tables was donated by Jones of Washington winery and dessert was cupcakes made by the CB Tech culinary students.

Accompanying dinner was a video presentation by Video Street Productions highlighting the services the CBCF offers. Abigail Mathis, a little girl with leukemia, was the subject of a testimonial by her father Galen and her brother Christian, speaking about the ways the foundation has helped them in their time of crisis, particularly through the Meals that Heal program. Dinner was followed by a live auction with Chuck Yarbro and dancing to music supplied by deejay Dale Roth.

“It’s a great turnout,” said Dr. Michael Graham, the foundation’s board president. “We’re really grateful for all the support in the community.” He expressed particular appreciation for patient coordinator Jean Copley, saying “She and Angel (Kneedler) slave away doing a great job for us.”

The money raised by the banquet goes to finance a number of services for cancer patients in the Columbia Basin, including gas vouchers and a shuttle bus to Wenatchee for patients who need out-of-town treatment, wigs and head coverings to take some of the sting out of hair loss, a support group for patients and their families and much more, according to the foundation’s website. All the money is kept in the local community.

“It’s really heartwarming,” said Todd Haring of Moses Lake, a four-time attendee, “to see all the love that pours out at the end of the night.”