Krisi Crandall wasn’t aware of the impact breast cancer had on her family until nearly 20 years after the disease had taken her birth mother’s life. Part of a closed adoption at birth, Crandall decided to search for her birth mother when she was 34 years old.
“I found out my birth mother had died of breast cancer,” she said. “I was 16 when she died.”
In her memory, Crandall started raising money last October in an effort to combat the disease in some way. Unsure of what she would do with the money, she found a single mother in Lansing who was in the midst of her own fight with breast cancer.
“When I gave her the money, the first thing she asked was, ‘What do I do with this?’” Crandall said. “I told her, ‘whatever you want.’”
With the help of Brandy Nelson, whom Crandall worked with at Eaton Pub & Grille at the time, the two started with a modest fundraiser. The servers paid $2 to wear pink t-shirts to help raise awareness. This year, Crandall has stepped up her efforts. Now a server at Maple Brook’s Clubhouse Bar and Grill, she has rejoined forces with Eaton Pub & Grille and Eaton Place and added The Rubber Biscuit to the team. Each is selling pink symbols of support for $1 — Maple Brook is selling maple leaves, Eaton Pub is selling bottles and Rubber Biscuit is selling hats. Maple Brook and Eaton Place are also selling pink painted pumpkins for $5 and pink rubber bracelets for $2.
The proceeds from the sale will go to help an Eaton County family dealing with breast cancer. The money will be collected throughout October, which is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Maple Brook has added other events to help raise money for Crandall’s efforts and add new opportunities in Charlotte. On Friday, Oct. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 31 Maple Brook will be offering a haunted house, set up in the Clubhouse basement. The haunted house will open at dusk and remain open until everyone has a chance to go through it, said general manager Renee Sevenski. The Clubhouse will offer and drink and food specials and hold special giveaways for those dressed in the best Halloween costumes.
In addition, the Clubhouse is holding a big Michigan State vs. Michigan tailgate and watch party. Sevenski said those who donate to the breast cancer awareness efforts will receive additional drink specials.
