By Mila Besich-Lira

Every year, 1.2 million new Cancer cases are diagnosed in the United States and 564,000 American’s die of the disease annually. Superior has been no stranger to cancer diagnosis and deaths.

For the fifth straight year, a group of volunteers led by Mike and Deb McKee and Fred and Karen Murrietta have organized the Superior Has Heart event to raise money for the American Cancer Society. With a steak dinner, auctions, raffles and blitz raffles people young and old from all over the state of Arizona come together to raise money to combat this disease.

This year guests were treated to live music by Armor Gomez and Punky Sanchez and they had the opportunity to bid on raffle items such as a homemade quilt donated by Pamela Peck and a one of a kind copper sculpture created by George Acosta, a former resident of Superior.

These contributions, along with hundreds of gift cards, sporting tickets, prize baskets and more, helped to generate over $11,000.

Cancer does not prejudice: it can develop in kids, teenagers, babies, middle aged adults and the elderly. It can develop all over the body with over 100 different types of cancer diagnosis.

There are stages of cancer, the easy to treat with a nip-tuck surgery to a stage four where massive amounts of radiation and chemotherapy are needed. Cancer can happen to the most athletic and healthy.

“Thank you to the whole town for their generous support of this event, all of the money goes to a good cause,” said Mike McKee, one of the main event coordinators.

The meal was prepared by the Red Bear Outfitters and the hall was provided by Los Hermanos Restaurant.