Standing-room-only for Kickin’ Cancer Casino Night
by Joy Ufford
April 21, 2026
The mood was very festive and rather raucous while supporters of Kickin’ Cancer in Sublette County and LaBarge gambled with hundreds of dollars in chips, cheering for both winners and losers during the annual "Casino Night."
The Southwest Pioneers Senior Center dining room in Marbleton turned into a glitzy casino Saturday night, April 18, with blackjack, craps and roulette tables and smiling dealers.
One end of the room was filled with special gift baskets donated for the raffle and the silent auction generously donated handcrafted jewelry, art, dinners, vacations, hay and other special items. Kickin’ Cancer sold out 180 dinner tickets in advance and many more came from far and wide to play poker, visit with friends, take pictures and support the cause.
Donations large and small fund the nonprofit’s goal to offer local cancer patients some extra emotional and financial support.
Every year, each eligible applicant in Sublette County and LaBarge can access up to $6,500 to ease the burdens of qualified travel or medical costs. In 2025, Kickin’ Cancer distributed $195,724.82 to local families and individuals. Over the years, Kickin’ Cancer has provided more than $1 million to locals.
After almost 24 years, board president, founding member and cancer survivor Steve James retired, with Kevin Kunard stepping up to expand the board and work toward making the nonprofit self-sustainable. Fishing for the Fight, a summer fly-fishing tournament, provided a significant grant as a foundation.
Kickin’ Cancer administrative manager Arlaina Goddard was a whirlwind swirling throughout the "casino." Also featured were treasurer Kim Myers, secretary Chauncey Goodrich and board members Amy Thang, Kathy King, Laura Walton and Mandy Norris.
Kunard said this year’s annual event surpassed expectations.
The Common Cents casino tables and dealers were sponsored by local businesses and individuals – Craps ($2,000) Pinedale Dental and Jonah Energy; Roulette ($1,400) Hilcorp Energy and PureWest; Blackjack ($850) The Bear Den, Speciality Drywall, SOS Well Services, Bank of Jackson Hole, Tegeler & Associates, Office Outlet, First Western Bank, King Electric, Neilou and Roman Sombrano and DYNAMCK.
For more information about Kickin’ Cancer, see www.kickincancer.org.
|
