LOL News
Presentations to ECU North and VCU South Hill
Ladies of the Lake Cancer Support team once again were able to give donations to both ECU North in Roanoke Rapids NC and also VCU at the Hendricks Center in South Hill, Virginia.
This money helps both centers giving things to cancer patients such as Boost, gas cards to get to appointments, help with mammograms for those that can’t afford them and many other necessities.
Much of this money came from doing our annual spaghetti dinner that will be held at The Kennon House in May this year, our yard sale under the awning at Norton’s Flea Market, monthly Bunco held at Lakeside Lutheran Church first Tuesday of each month except December and January. Also from our wonderful annual Holiday Home tour with six or seven beautiful homes around the lake, that grows bigger each year. All of these things are put into motion by 20 very caring ladies.
To learn more about Ladies of the Lake go to our website at ladiesofthelake.info or our Facebook page at Ladies of the Lake Cancer Support Team.
The first photo was taken at ECU North Health Hospital in Roanoke Rapids NC.
People shown from left to right: Pam Hendren, Karen Husar, Sue Williams, Donna Burleson handing check to Toddy Hickey the new President of ECU Health North Hospital, behind them is Vickie Evans and Suzie Goertemiller, beside Toddy is Sandra Burch , the three oncology nurses are Emily Moore, Heather Harrison and Wendy Keener and also Betsy Morris Manager of Marketing and Development for ECU Health North.
The second photo was taken at the Hendrick’s Center at VCU South Hill, VA.
Pictured from left to right are Mikala Barnes, Vickie Evans, ?, Sandra Burch, Karen Husar, Sue Spickler, Alison Hite being handed the check by Donna Burleson, behind them Sarah Baltz, Tiffany Kinker, Marrianne West, Harley Simms, Kathy Everhart and Jean Edwards.
Letter to the Editor, A Heartfelt Thank You from The Ladies of the Lake Cancer Support Team
The Ladies of the Lake Cancer Support Team would like to thank everyone with who supported our 19th Annual Home Tour. The day was festive and fun and enabled us to continue our support for local cancer patients in the five counties surrounding Lake Gaston.
We are so thankful for our homeowners who generously opened their beautiful homes for the tour. We appreciate all who bought tickets and donated extra funds for our cause.
We thank Robin Barnette at the Kitchen Table for catering both the pre-tour evening and the delicious luncheon at the Lion’s Den on the day of the tour. Our thanks to the Lion’s Club for allowing us to use the Lion’s Den. A very special thanks to all the wonderful men who drove golf carts at various homes throughout the day. We also want to thank Mark Mathews and Hope Callahan for all their hard work at the Lake Gaston Gazette.
We, again, exceeded our expectations for ticket sales and fell so fortunate that we live in such a supportive, generous community. We thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.
Mark Mathews/Lake Gaston Gazette-Observer Editor, LOL Holiday Home Tour patrons gather for lunch at the Lake Gaston Lions Club
Patrons of Saturday’s Ladies of the Lake Cancer Support Team Holiday Home Tour found a way to re-energize at the end of the day with a hot lunch and other refreshments at the Lake Gaston Lions Club in Henrico. Many hit the club before going on the tour, and sone wound up heading to the club for refreshments more than once. Seven homes were featured on this year’s LOL Cancer Support Team Holiday Home Tour.
The annual first Saturday in December feature is the top fundraising event for the Ladies of the Lake Cancer Support Team. LOL Team members assisted patrons at the homes and at the Lions Club to ensure the event worked like a well-oiled machine. The mission was accomplished.
The LOL Cancer Support Team is an independent 501c3 nonprofit organization formed in 2003 to provide direct financial and other support to local cancer patients. The ground also financially supports local cancer treatment centers and foundations. Since its founding, the LOL Cancer Support Team has distributed more than $70,000 to cancer patients and foundations involved in battling cancer.
Lades of the Lake experience massive success in 2024, by William Maselli Correspondent
For all those who were suffering from cancer and other health problems in 2024 and 2025, there is one organization in Lake Gaston that wants to let you know help is on the way. Ladies of the Lake (LOL) enjoyed massive success in fundraising for cancer due to the hard work of its co-captains and other team members, wide array of events, and community support. This allowed them to make contributions not only to many individuals, but also various local organizations.
In 2025, LOL is looking forward to building off its success and further raising the bar for cancer fundraising and research.
“Last year, we no only met but exceeded our funding raising goals,” stated Co-captain of LOL Cancer Support team Sarah Blatz.
Additionally, with the knowledge that every dollar raised helps someone suffering from cancer, the team and its members worked tirelessly to increase the number of private donations raised.
After reviewing the increase in private donations garnered in 2024, the LOL cancer support team has concluded that they are resonating within the community. Furthermore, the team understands that this is a successful building block to continue to build from.
The captains of LOL Have instilled a culture to raise as much money as possible to support cancer victims. Hence, they really do not have a set fundraising goal, as the team cares that each member is constantly trying to be productive to raise money and exceed beginning of the year expectations.
“Our only goal is to reach out and help as many in our five surrounding counties who are suffering with this horrible disease called Cancer, so the more we help the better we are at succeeding at what we do,” stated Co-captain Donna Burleson.
Next, LOL enjoyed massive success in 2024 due to its four main marquee events which include the following: Monthly Bunco Night, Annual Spaghetti Dinner, Annual Yard Sale and Holiday Hone Tour. Monthly Bunco Nights give the opportunity for LOL to dedicate the evening to someone who they are helping. LOL invites loved ones of the cancer victim to attend and enables the community to appreciate how much their donations are transforming people’s lives.
The Annual Spaghetti Dinner builds camaraderie within the team, community, its members, and the patients the team is helping. This event is usually hosted at Lake Gaston Pizza & More. LOL team members clean tables, refill food, and connect with their supporters.
The Annual Yard Sale event allows community members to enjoy great deals, enables LOL to effectively fundraise money, and most importantly, allows LOL team members to reconnect. This event is usually held at the Flea Market in Lake Gaston.
The Holiday Home Tour raises the most money for the LOL Cancer Support Team, “Each year we always hear that was the best Home Tour ever and we hope that will continue to many years to come,” stated Burleson. This event showcases many homes throughout the Lake Gaston community and provides supporters of LOL an opportunity to volunteer their homes for a worthy cause.
These vents would not be possible if it was not for the very generous donations made by the Lake Gaston Community in the form of time and money.
“So many folks in the Lake Gaston community reach out with donations and attending and contributing to our many fundraisers,” sated Burleson. “We just hope the community continues to be aware of what we do with the funds we raise, and we know they will continue to support in any way possible.”
In 2024, Lake Gaston made contributions to two local and vital foundations. The first foundation LOL was able to contribute to was the Community Memorial Hospital Foundation in South Hill, Virginia. The second foundation LOL contributed to was the Halifax Regional Foundation in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. Both of these foundations help with cancer research and specialize in cancer treatment for patients
In 2025, LOL is looking for people to generator new ideas regarding cancer research and is enthusiastic regarding hearing new community ideas. The Ladies of the Lake can be reached through our website, ladiesofthelake.info.
Presentation to ECU North - August 8, 2024
Ladies of the lake Cancer Support Team was pleased to give a donation to ECU North Hospital in Roanoke Rapids NC. Over the years Ladies of the Lake have given over $60,000 to this foundation.
In the photo are Betsy Morris ECU Health North Hospital Development Council. Behind her is Susie Goertemiller, in front Kathy Bredland behind her Marianne West then Jason Harrell President ECU Health North Hospital receiving the check from Sandra Burch, then Robin Reikowsky. Sue Williams, Kathy Everhart and Beth Munson.
LOL continues to assist both ECU Roanoke Rapids NC and VCU Hendricks Center in South Hill VA as well as many individuals who have cancer around the five counties of Lake Gaston.
If you would like to make a donation please click here.
June 2024 Yard Sale
Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser - May 1, 2024
Buddy Isles Jr's Car Show
September 9, 2023
Buddy Isles donated 100% of the raffles sales from his car show last weekend (Littleton Days) in the amount of $1500.
FAB's Presenting Donation to LOL
These photos were taken Tuesday at Gayle Kennard’s beautiful home where she hosted 45 FAB’s for the “pink” day that was organized to honor people with cancer. We first rode around some of the coves in the area including Big and Little Stone house Creek and Lizard creek. We then all tied up at Gayle’s and other local homeowners docks. Everyone brought their own lunch which they enjoyed along with water and delicious cookies and watermelon given by some of the FAB’s who were hosting the ride. After we all picked a gift that we brought in honor of pink day to exchange with others in the group. Then four of the FAB’s who are also Ladies of the Lake were presented by Nancy Kelley-Cram with $334.00 that was donated by all the FAB’s present.
LOL is overwhelmed with the generosity of the FAB’s as well as so many wonderful people around the lake.
The one picture shows all of the FAB’s present. The other is of Nancy Kelley-Cram presenting the money to Donna Burleson along with Dixie Timberlake, Sue Williams and Sharon Larsen.
Articles in the Lake Gaston Gazette-Observer
"Saturday Yard Sale Bargain Hunters Benefit Ladies of the Lake Cancer Support Team" by Mark Mathews, Editor (June 11, 2024)
"Oct. 3 Ladies of the Lake Bunco to benefit Lee Thompson" by Mark Mathews, Editor (September 28, 2023)
"Previous hosts embrace annual Ladies of the Lake Holiday Home Tour event" by Mark Mathews, Editor (September 7, 2023)
"Ladies of the Lake host Bunco for a very worthy cause" by William Masselli, Correspondent (July 16, 2023)
"Teamwork spurs successful Ladies of the Lake Yard Sale" by Mark Mathews, Editor (June 17, 2023)
"Ladies of the Lake to host yard sale for very worthy cause" by William Masselli, Correspondent (June 7, 2023)
