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Putting on a show to raise money for cancer

By: Chelsea Rarrick
Updated: June 6, 2012
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Instead of a bake sale or raffles to raise money for cancer, a Relay for Life team is putting on a show.

Sheilah Kittle, who is captain of her team, "Angel-Buds," said if she mentioned a bake sale one more time, her friends were going to go for her throat.

Instead, she brought up the idea of using a musical to raise money for cancer to her mom, who actually wrote the play.

"My daughter said, hey why don't we put a play on up here, so this is what we're doing. She thought it would be ideal for for "Relay for Cancer" that she's so involved with, and the kids are enjoying this," said play writer, Lois Miller.

"My great-great grandmother wrote this play. We're trying to cure cancer so people can feel better," said Gianna Rosado.

The actors in "The Good, The Bad, and The Elderly" are employees of Faxton St. Lukes Healthcare, and their families.

While being on stage is brand new for many of them, raising money for cancer is not.

"It means a great deal to all of us. Either we've had family members who have been touched or friends. It's just special for us to be able to do this. The more money we raise, maybe we shoot cancer in the foot," said Sheilah Kittle.

Giving it her all on stage, Breast Cancer survivor, Karen Christensen is all about finding different ways to keep money coming in for cancer research.

"It's terribly exciting. It's really nice. It's a nice way for people to get out and do something for it. I know many people in the audience have had cancer, and will certainly enjoy seeing the friends of theirs on stage," said Christensen.

Lois Miller is thrilled to have her first musical comedy writing in Utica, turn into a way to raise money for cancer.

"It's just nice to see it out there again because I had written it four years ago. I had just kind of washed my hands of it all, but it just seems wonderful and these kids are great, they are really good!" said Miller.

Miller has also written a number of plays back when she lived in Florida.

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