Edwardsville Fundraiser Raises Thousands for Blood Cancer Research

EDWARDSVILLE - An Edwardsville fundraiser recently raised thousands of dollars for blood cancer research.

Sherry Rosenberger, a local blood cancer survivor, works with Blood Cancer United to support patients with leukemia and lymphoma through the organization’s Light the Night campaign. She and co-captain Angie Key founded Team Unstoppable to support patients and research, and they had a successful evening at their “Cancer is a Drag” event at EXO Lounge last month.

“My co-captain, Angie Key, and I are both five years in remission, so we wanted to do it big and do a little extra this year,” Rosenberger explained. “It was surprisingly wonderful. This is the first time I had an event, and it turned out beautifully.”

Rosenberger and Key reached out to local realtor David Turner-Cole, who agreed to sponsor the event. They put in a call to EXO owner Gina Gamblin, who was excited to host.

With a DJ, drag queens, a 50/50 raffle and an auction, the event turned out to be majorly successful. Gamblin donated a champagne party at EXO, and two guests began a bidding war; she donated a second party on the spot, raising $4,000 total. This touched Rosenberger, who admitted she doesn’t know Gamblin well and was impressed by her kindness toward a stranger.

“I’m just so grateful for her,” Rosenberger said. “She does have such a huge heart and is so interested in helping the community of Edwardsville and Glen Carbon.”

Gamblin expressed her excitement to support Rosenberger and similar causes throughout the region. She noted that Rosenberger is “very passionate” about Blood Cancer United’s mission, which inspires her.

“I just think it’s important to give back and do what we can for everyone in need,” she added. “It’s just really a win-win for everyone.”

Counting the evening’s ticket sales and other donations, Team Unstoppable has raised almost $25,000 this year so far. Over the past five years, they have raised over $91,000, all of which goes to blood cancer research. You can donate here to help them in their fight to end blood cancer.

Rosenberger is grateful to the Edwardsville community and beyond for their help in her fight. She encourages people to support small business owners like Turner-Cole and Gamblin, and she teases that people should “just stay tuned” to the great work Team Unstoppable will do next.

“We’re just so excited that the community has been so helpful supporting this cause. It’s near and dear to my heart, obviously, because of what I went through,” she added. “Make sure you visit EXO and support the local communities, especially those mom-and-pop shops that aren’t chain locations. They’re really just the core and heart of our community.”

For more information about how to book an event at EXO, check out their official website at VisitEXO.com/events. To donate to Team Unstoppable and Blood Cancer United, click here.

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