More online: Watch Joe Vanuch talk about his late wife Jill's legacy at SpringfieldNewsSun.com.
The memory of a Springfield woman who died of breast cancer last July will endure through an annual fundraiser she started seven years ago.
The annual Dance to Save the Ta Tas — a female-only event created by Jill Vanuch — brought in more than $23,000 last year for breast cancer research. The seventh annual event being held on Saturday is already sold out and could raise more than $25,000 this year.
“This will be her legacy,” said daughter Katie Vanuch, who took over operation of the event from her mother last year.
About 500 women will attend this year and the only men in attendance will be the Vanuch family. Thousands of dollars’ worth of donations have been made to the event, said Jill’s husband, Joe Vanuch, a former principal at Shawnee High School.
“Jill was an inspiration to so many people,” Joe said.
The money raised is given to the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research at Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute where it is used for research or patient assistance. None of the money is spent on administrative costs, he said.
Several of her former nurses from the hospital will be in attendance. Jill, who worked as a registered nurse at Community Hospital and Wittenberg University, passed away at the age of 60 last July.
After she lost her 12-year battle with breast cancer, the family immediately began planning the dance, Joe said. While it will be different without her, this year’s dance is a time to celebrate her life, he said.
“This disease affects so many women and families,” Joe said. “There’s nobody who doesn’t have somebody affected by breast cancer. We’re going to celebrate Jill’s life.”
The event started in 2009 and was held for about 80 women in the old bar at Windy Knoll Golf Course before its recent expansion. As the event got bigger and bigger, so did the venues, said Mallory Vanuch, Jill daughter-in-law. It was later moved to the UAW Local 402 hall on U.S. 68 before eventually to the indoor Champions Center at the Clark County Fairgrounds.
“It’s the biggest venue in Springfield,” Mallory said.
Last week, the family held a fundraiser at O’Conner’s Irish Pub where the Vanuch men served as celebrity bartenders. The event raised more than $2,200, beating the previous record of $1,300.
The goal is to eventually become a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, Katie said. They could also change the date of the event, allowing it to move to an outdoor venue to accommodate the growing number of women who want to attend.
“Long after I’m gone, long after we’re gone, we want in place the fact that this dance will continue because it’s so important,” Joe said.
Jill Vanuch always carried a card with balloons that read, ‘Celebrate life’ – which will serve as this year’s theme. It was something she always focused on, Katie said.
“She’ll be there celebrating with us,” Katie said.
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