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Wired Ladies' raise funds for cancer research

Associated Press

June 1, 2005 - Crookston, Minn (AP) - With each twist of the wire and bow in the ribbon, the Wired Ladies help raise money to fight cancer.

It all started three years ago when the organizers of Crookston's Relay for Life approached two local, small scale jewelry makers, Sherry Gilstad and Mary LaFrance.

"They asked my partner if we could make something and we did and they've been hot ever since," Gilstad said. They made special pins with pink ribbons.

They were a hit in Crookston that year. The next year the pins were at cancer fundraisers in North Mankato, Brainerd, St. Cloud and Red Lake Falls County.

"This year, the pins are going out to two relays in California, two in South Dakota and quite a few in Minnesota," Gilstad said.

The Relay for Life is a common fundraiser for the American Cancer Society during with teams of people walk or run laps at schools, parks or fairgrounds.

Gilstad attributed the growth to word of mouth and people sending pins to friends and relatives in other states.

The pins sell for $12 and $6 goes to the Relay for Life. Last year, Wired Ladies made over 1,400 pins for the events, which translates into about $8,400 in donations. The fundraising pins have kept the women so busy that they're training another person to help out. "We're expanding, it's exciting."