The 42nd annual Northeastern Pa. American Cancer Telethon scored another win in the second year of pandemic challenges.

The 24-hour telethon, postponed from its usual April weekend date, was broadcast this weekend from Penn’s Peak. Through various fundraising efforts, corporate sponsorships and individual pledges, the two-day event concluded at midnight with $205,072 raised.

Telethon Chairman Joe Krushinsky credited the volunteers with finding a way to persevere. As an example, the committee contacted various businesses for food donations to feed the TV crews and volunteers.

When the volunteer went to pick up promised pizzas at Pizza Como in Lehighton, the shop was without power. But they had the pizzas hot and waiting.

“They went the extra mile literally to another location to get the pizzas ready.”

He talked about the need to cancel many of the fundraisers leading up to the telethon.

“Last year was such a disaster. In 2020, we were set to do the April telethon when the world shut down,” Krushinsky said.

All of the fundraising that normally takes place in schools and the community had already happened. By the time the telethon happened virtually last August, they managed to raise $178,975.

This year, Krushinsky said, was a reverse of that. “Nothing happened in winter.”

Yet, he pointed out, “The Carbon Career & Technical Institute found a way to bring in a couple thousand. Tamaqua high school raised a couple thousand.”

Touting the spirit of the community, he said, “Something special is happening here.”

The cancer auction, held in July at Lakeside Ballroom in Barnesville, raised $27,100. The golf tournament at Mountain Valley Golf Course brought in $9,000. Lehigh Valley Health Network donated $12,500.

Zoostock raised $9,200. Notre Dame Club of Schuylkill County raised $7,000.

East End Fire Company brought $2,200 and American Fire Company brought $2,900.

The Labor Day Raft race at Lehighton Outdoor Center raised $1,441.

CCTI and Tamaqua Area Senior High School came with checks for $2,000 apiece.

Steve Ulicny, a Tamaqua high school teacher and member of the Toolshed Jack band, said he became involved when his brother Frankie died of brain cancer in 2008. As student government adviser, he talked about all the fundraisers throughout the year with the school’s Kids Helping Kids fundraiser. Toolshed Jack does a fundraising concert. There are T-shirt sales, raffles, pierogie sales and more.

“It’s not just one big thing. It’s events all year long.”

A duo new to the telethon, 2Country4Nashville, challenged their fans on social media to donate. People called in pledges before the couple even took the stage.

Throughout the weekend, the focus remained on cancer survivors. Five Courage Award recipients were honored: Tom Connors of Weatherly, Heidi Hooper of Tannersville, Dawn Ferrante Hart of Lake Wallenpaupack, Sierra Thomas of Summit Hill, and Jillian Datchko of Tamaqua.

A new Cancer Fighters segment on Saturday featured cancer patients telling their stories. Kimberly Gerhard, owner of the Perfect Balance Boutique, and Sue Zehner of Tamaqua, breast cancer survivors, and Kevin Takacs of Tamaqua, diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer.

Family members of Sue Vincent gave a memorial tribute.

Remotes were held from Lehigh Valley Zoo, the Yuengling museum and brewery area, a viewing party at the Coaldale American Legion, Viewmont Mall in Dickson City and downtown Stroudsburg.