By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
The Defeat of Jesse James Days Committee is set to donate $5,000 to the Northfield Hospital. The donation is part of the annual Give Cancer the Boat fundraiser. Galen Malecha, the DJJD General Chair, says that the main fundraiser happens at the Friday Night Rodeo:
“We call it past the boot night, so they take cowboy boots and buckets and pass them around, and people, if they have spare change or a few dollars in their pocket, usually throw it into the boot or the bucket.” – Galen Malecha, General Chair of the DJJD Committee, KYMN News Interview
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Give Cancer the Boot has been part of the DJJD for 10+ years, giving over $60,000 to the Hospital Foundation. Additional fundraisers include the Cornhole Tournament and sponsorships.
The donations help fund comfort items for cancer patients, including a new-patient welcome bag with journals, puzzles, snacks, and personal comfort items; weighted blankets for use during chemotherapy; and candles for patients’ hospital rooms recovering from breast surgery.
DJJD Treasurer Sandy Vesledahl noted how the celebration provides a significant amount of donations and fundraising across the community:
“So I think a lot of people don’t realize the impact that the celebration and the Defeat of Jesse James Days Committee has on the nonprofits and how much money is given back into the community just simply from this event.”– Sandy Vesledahl, Board Treasurer of the DJJD Committee.
Beyond Give Cancer The Boot, the DJJD committee estimates that they donate approximately $50,000 a year to different non-profits and that the celebration provides fundraising opportunities for dozens of organizations.
Defeat of Jesse James Days 2026 is on September 9th – 13th.
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