Aurora Van Auken, a senior at Jim Thorpe High School, and Joan Hafler, a senior at Pocono East High School, and used the 30th Winterfest to help draw attention and raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

The fundraiser was held at Big Creek Vineyard, inside the Hooven Mercantile Building, next to the train station in Jim Thorpe on Sunday.

“We partnered with Big Creek Winery,” Van Auken said. “We are selling Gertrude Hawk chocolates to pair with wines; we have a list of what kind of wine goes best with different types of chocolate. All money goes to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.”

The fundraiser started the final week of a seven-week program of events. While they were not permitted to say how much has been raised so far, they will get the final amount on Saturday.

“Any win against cancer is a huge win for everyone,” Van Auken said. “I am doing this campaign not only for my father, who had cancer, but in hopes no child or adult experiences a similar situation to his. I truly believe together beating cancer is in our blood. We are asking for your help as we cannot successfully do this without it.”

The last event for their campaign will be a game night at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Penn Forest Township Fire Hall. Games will include bingo, trivia, and board and card games.

Admission is $5 per person and refreshments will be available.

To make a donation, visit https://events.lls.org/lv/svoylv23/avanauken

Checks can be made payable to the “Leukemia & Lymphoma Society,” and in the memo write “Aurora Van Auken.” Checks can be mailed to Aurora Van Auken, 4 Hunter Lane, Albrightsville, PA, 18210.