Imagine being in a room full of people who are in ball gowns and tuxes. The person on the microphone gives everyone a heads up that the lights will be going off in just a few seconds, but before they do, we were asked to find the glow sticks that were in the center of the table. What happened next is a moment I’ll never forget.
The lights went out. And then…people were asked to break the glow stick if they were a cancer survivor. A handful of glowsticks started to light up the room.
If we are now remembering someone who fought cancer…we were asked to break our glowstick and let it shine. Half of the room was now lit up.
Another round of glowsticks lit the room as we were asked if we were here tonight as a supporter of a cancer survivor.
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If you could have said “yes” to any of those above, there is an event you don’t want to miss this year – the Kick’n Cancer Gala in Rochester, Minnesota.
Everything You Need To Know About The Kick’n Cancer Gala in Rochester, Minnesota
You don’t have to look very far to see that Rochester is home to Mayo Clinic. According to mn.gov, over 908,000 patients were served in Rochester in 2022. Many visits to Rochester involve long treatments and overnight stays. Thankfully, Hope Lodge of the American Cancer Society is available for those in active cancer treatment.
The Rochester Hope Lodge of the American Cancer Society opened in 1999 at 411 Second Street NW and has 62 guest rooms available for those needing a home away from home. In 2024, Hope Lodge hosted over 1900 guests from 39 states.
Donations and nights like the Kick’n Cancer Gala help supply the funds and supplies that are needed to operate Hope Lodge. Below is everything you need to know about the Kick’n Cancer event:
Join us for a night of hope, inspiration, and fun at the Kick’n Cancer Gala, benefitting the Rochester Hope Lodge of the American Cancer Society. It all happens Saturday, October 25th at the Hilton in downtown Rochester. Enjoy fine dining, live entertainment, and the chance to make a difference in the lives of cancer patients and their families right here in our community. Don’t miss this unforgettable evening of giving and celebration.
If scrumptious desserts are your thing, this fun gala has a Dessert Dash! It is exactly what it sounds like. Every table gathers up donations among their group and the table that pools together the most money gets to run and pick out a dessert for their table to enjoy. The second best table gets to go seconds later…then the third best…etc. In other words, if there is a dessert you want, you’ve got to run fast! Below are the desserts that were there last year.
📅 Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025
⏰ Reception: 5:30 PM (program to follow)
📍 Location: 10 East Center Street, Rochester, MN 55901 – 3rd Floor
👗 Attire: Cocktail or black-tie—but pick your kicks! Have fun with your shoes (comfy, silly, fancy—anything goes).
Grab your tickets now at rochester.acsgala.org.
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