The Mad Hatters, sponsored by the Jackson Masonic Lodge, show off their team at the Fifth Annual Amador County Camp Out for Cancer. The team raised money by selling tea and baked goods. Photo by: Jack Mitchell Ledger Dispatch photo by Helen Bonner Ken Black, who lost his wife to cancer several years ago, is a four-year volunteer with Amador STARS. Ledger Dispatch photo by Helen Bonner Amador Cross Country runners, from left, Colby Ryan, Jason Bishop and Brad James finished a cross country meet earlier Saturday morning and then went to the camp out with a goal of doing 10 miles. Ledger Dispatch photo by Helen Bonner Bev Stewart, left, and Rose Marie Moreno hang out at the Postal/Pony Express office.

By 10 Saturday morning, the football field and track at Argonaut High School was already a swirl of colored tents and booths for Amador STARS' Camp Out for Cancer.

Big Jim Hall, master of ceremonies, was at the mic, along with Ginger Rolf, director of the event, who told a lively morning crowd that $l8,000 had already been donated to cancer research by Amador STARS. Ten percent goes to cancer research, while the other 90 percent goes to support their cancer patient transportation program.

"We are slowly making headway against cancer," she said. "You are making it happen. Many more patients are living longer lives because of what you do."

There were more than 800 registered participants and another 50 committee members. About 300 people visited the event, putting attendance at more than 1,000 this year.

STARS is the acronym for support, transportation and resource services, referring mainly to the vans and teams of volunteer drivers who daily take patients to their chemotherapy appointments, not just locally, but to Sacramento, Lodi and Stockton. STARS is the sole source of funding for the pool of 10 vans. The drivers, some 25 of them, are all volunteers.

Mike Kyle has done at least one run a week for two years. "Phyllis Swenson started this many years ago," Kyle said, with obvious admiration. "Today we have hundreds of patients. Some might have 30 or 40 treatments, and have to get to a clinic or hospital every day. Some drivers make as many as four trips a week to the valley.

"We deal with cancer patients all the time," said relief driver Ken Black. "I enjoy it. We try to help them keep a good attitude. A person's attitude can make a difference in how they heal," said Black, who lost his wife to cancer several years ago.

The fifth annual Camp Out for Cancer was living up to its reputation at its kick-off Saturday morning as the greatest fund-raiser in the county. Jim Guidi of HomeTown Radio and Mike Rolf were set up, broadcasting live, and Herb Boxhorn's band was playing. By 9 a.m., the Great Amador Head Shave had already shorn "Locks of Love" from at least 10 willing women, while teams of runners, sprinters or walkers rounded the busy track. Cancer survivors rested in a shaded tent, sharing their experiences, and the vans normally used to take them to their chemotherapy appointments were now transporting celebrants from the parking lots.

Participants made it clear that this was not a wake for cancer victims, but a celebration of family and friends who would always be remembered, and a celebration of the great numbers of people who survive the ravages of cancer day after day.

Camp Out for Cancer in five years has become the biggest charity fund-raiser in the county. "Almost everyone has a loved one facing cancer: a family member, friend or neighbor," Ginger said. "It affects us all."

From the look of the crowds still arriving, empathy leads to generosity, money laid out at the barbecue, the scavenger hunt, the Fun Zone, and more than 30 colorful booths.

Most of the booths and tents set up on the lawn housed the 36 teams pledged to earn at least $100 each to "stamp out cancer." Each team had its own captain and its own way of raising funds - from giving massages, to raffles, bake sales, tattoos and cleaning services.

Peggy Bosch, team captain of the Mad Hatters Tea Party, who has volunteered since the event's inception five years ago, said, "I do this because in some small way I can help my friends. So many of them use the van and tell me what it means to them to have such considerate, helpful drivers."

Lois Maddox, also a Mad Hatter, has been helping out for two years. As she served tea to generous, friendly customers, she said, "This is a very giving county."

Team captain Judi Parkinson estimated that they had already done at least 25 massages by noon Saturday. "One hundred percent of the money goes to the cancer fund. It all stays in the county, except the 10 percent for research."

Young people were as involved as their elders. One group of high school runners, Colby Ryan, Jason Bishop and Brad James, had already finished a cross country meet earlier that morning, then came to the camp out with a goal of doing 10 miles, each mile earning more money.

Katie Hancock, 18, elected Miss Amador at the county fair this year for her outstanding scholarship and community service, was at the camp out because "Gramma had cancer and is a survivor." She estimated at least 50 students from Amador and Argonaut high schools were helping out in booths or circling the track, earning more money per lap for the cause.

Throughout the day, festive golf carts and colorful ATV's darted through the crowd, hauling food, musical instruments, or tired walkers. Tony Migliaccio, Marianne Jim and Lynda Burman obviously enjoyed the job. "Best ever camp out," they said. "Great turnout."

Tammy Jo Spiva intended to walk all night. Spiva planned to knit while walking, she said. According to some, walking through the night symbolizes and honors the struggle the cancer survivor faces with this disease. After quiet time in the campsites, campers rose at 6 a.m. for an early breakfast, also served by volunteers, then everyone walked the track for the last half-hour, and the fifth annual Camp Out for Cancer officially came to a close.

As of Sunday morning, more than $89,000 had been raised, and still counting. "Our goal is to raise $100,000," Ginger said.

Ginger was touched by the people involved in Camp Out for Cancer. "They worked together, they played together, and they pulled together to support one another," she said. "Not only did they raise money to keep the cancer vans transporting patients, they raised money for cancer research and to keep the support groups growing and serving our community."