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PALMYRA, MO. -- A Palmyra Tradition is gearing up for one of its biggest fundraisers of the year.

Members of the Flower Children - Relay for Life Team is spending the day setting up and organizing donated auction items for its 11th annual Spring Fling Dinner & Auction for the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life on Saturday, April 16th. It's held at Palmyra's American Legion Post 174 hall.

The event includes a live and silent auction along with a meal provided by HATS Restaurant of Palmyra.  Last year, our Spring Fling raised over $49,000 for Relay For Life.  Tickets are $20 each.  If you are interested, you can call 573-221-5958 to secure tickets and the number of entrée choices (pork loin or lemon-pepper chicken over rice) you will need.

The Flower Children have won top fund-raising honors for the last nine years in Marion County.

The team has also been the top fund-raising team in the American Cancer Society's High Plains Division for several years.

That division includes six states.

Read more at the Quincy Herald Whig.

Team Captain Mark Bross says his family spurred the group after his mother survived her fight with cancer.

He says helping in the fight against cancer wouldn't be possible without the community's support. 

Bross said, "I think it does surprise people that a town of Palmyra's size is able to generate the support and effort that goes into this.  It's an awesome feeling when we have anywhere from 450 to 500 people come out and spend money for this cause."

The team is also selling raffle chances on a donated Oak Chest, which was handcrafted once again by Mark Hemm of Quincy.  The tickets are $1 each or six for $5 and all of the proceeds go to the Relay For Life through Mark’s generous donation of this beautiful item.