Our LIVE AUCTION items are ready to view! https://gavers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026-LIVE-AUCTION-ONLY.pdf

We thought you would love to see all that is being offered tomorrow night, both at the Live Auction and through the Bucket Raffle. 

There are some fantastic items up for auction, including some great trips. Now’s the time to gather your friends and/or family to see who would love to go on these trips with you.

We appreciate your generous donation and support of Gavers Bandance. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow and keep cool!

This weekend’s Barndance isn’t just McHenry County’s biggest summer celebration. It’s also helping fund the next generation of cancer research at Rush University Medical Center—continuing a mission that began with Chicago Bears legend Brian Piccolo more than 50 years ago.

Every summer, physicians from Rush University Medical Center trade white lab coats for Gavers Community Cancer Foundation T-shirts. When they make the trek to Woodstock, no tuxedos or ballroom speeches await.

Instead, they find more than a thousand people gathered beneath a giant tent for live music, barbecue, raffles, and auctions during the Gavers Community Cancer Foundation Barndance, what many call the best 7 hours of summer.

To first-time visitors, it might seem like an unlikely place to support cutting-edge cancer research. But for Joy Piccolo O’Connell, widow of Chicago Bears running back Brian Piccolo, the connection couldn’t make more sense.

“We work closely with Dr. Melody Cobleigh at Rush, and she’s a trouper—she comes to the Barndance every year,” Joy said. “Many doctors come, and they just get a kick out of the whole experience.”

When the music ends, those physicians return to Chicago with something far more valuable than memories of a fantastic summer evening. Thanks to the generosity of Barndance sponsors, volunteers and attendees, they also return with funding that supports cancer research, clinical trials, and community education through the Brian Piccolo Fund at Rush.

For Joy, that’s exactly what Brian would have wanted.

A Promise Made Over Dinner

That partnership didn’t begin with a fundraising agreement. It began with a conversation.

When Steve Gavers was diagnosed with cancer at just 32 years old, a mutual friend (Joy’s new husband Rich) encouraged him to meet Joy Piccolo O’Connell, who had already spent decades helping families navigate cancer diagnoses after losing Brian to embryonal cell carcinoma at age 26.

The two met for dinner. Steve had questions about treatment. Joy shared what she had learned through Brian’s battle and suggested several nationally recognized cancer centers. But before the evening was over, Steve made a promise. “He told me, ‘Someday I’m going to give it back,’” Joy recalled. “And he has.”

That promise eventually grew into one of McHenry County’s most recognizable charitable traditions.

Carrying the Mission Forward

After Brian Piccolo’s death in 1970, the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund became one of the country’s best-known cancer charities, supported in large part by the NFL Foundation. Over the decades, and with the focus on advancing cancer research at Rush continuing to expand, there was a growing need to provide more philanthropic support to this work.

Rather than allowing the work to slow, Steve Gavers stepped into the gap. “The Gavers Community Cancer Foundation has been extremely generous,” Joy said. “Last year, it gave us $100,000, and it’s usually between $75,000 and $100,000 every year. I always tell Steve that he’s our new sponsor.”

All together, Gavers has donated $2.7 million to the Brian Piccolo Fund at Rush over the last 26 years. Those gifts allow the Brian Piccolo Fund to continue supporting cancer research, community awareness, and clinical trials at Rush University Medical Center. “Our fund is at Rush,” Joy said. “I sign the check, and they do all the work.”

She credits physician leaders such as Dr. Melody Cobleigh, Dr. Phil Bonomi, and Dr. Jeffrey Borgia with helping ensure every dollar is directed where it can make the greatest impact.

More Than a Shared Diagnosis

Joy believes her friendship with Steve runs deeper than the cancer that unites them. She sees something familiar. “People love Steve,” she said. “He reminds me of Brian. People gravitated to Brian just as they’re doing with Steve.”

She remembers watching Steve choose optimism instead of despair. Today, he has become the same kind of encouragement to young cancer patients that Brian continues to be for generations of families.

“He’s one of the most positive people I’ve met since Brian,” she said. “He’s an inspiration. He reaches out to young men facing cancer, stays in touch with them, and lets them know they’re not alone.”

For Joy, that’s every bit as important as the dollars raised each July.

The Story Continues

Brian Piccolo’s story has inspired millions through the movie Brian’s Song, Brian Piccolo: A Short Season, written by longtime Chicago journalist Jeannie Morris, and the generations of athletes and cancer survivors who know his name. But for Joy, the story didn’t end there.

It lives on in Woodstock through doctors who return each year to thank the community that helps fund their work.

It lives on through the neighbors who gather under a tent believing cancer research is worth supporting, and it lives on through one promise made by a young cancer survivor more than two decades ago.

“It’s amazing how the story continues,” Joy said. “And for that, I’m so grateful.”

Billy Rinn and Steve Gavers became acquainted more than 30 years ago. They both lived in McHenry County, IL, and came from different walks of life, but connected socially. From the time Steve successfully battled cancer until today, Billy and his wife Jean marvel at Steve’s zeal and his constant smile — even when he’s carrying much on his shoulders.

“Steve’s unstoppable energy, positivity and joy for life, which led to his vision of Gavers Community Cancer Foundation (GCCF) and its annual Barndance, was something Billy and I were immediately drawn to,” Jean Rinn said recently of her family’s connection with the GCCF.

Twenty-five Barndances later, what Steve Gavers calls “the best 7 hours of summer” counts the Rinns among its many attendees and supporters. “If this were a baseball game, Steve, the GCCF Board and the whole Barndance team would all be batting 1,000 for the excellence they bring while helping people during some of their toughest of times,” Jean declared.

The Rinns can’t say enough good things about how Steve and the GCCF Board carry out the Foundation’s mission.

“The GCCF supports people throughout their cancer journey,” Jean explained. “It supports area physicians and medical providers in both treatment and research at renowned facilities such as the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund at Rush University Medical. It communicates the important, ‘Get Checked’ message for early detection, and several years ago the GCCF provided funding for the first 3-D mammography imaging machine at a Northwestern Medical facility right here in Crystal Lake.”

GCCF’s neighbors-helping-neighbors dynamic keeps the Rinn family involved. “The beauty of GCCF is that it’s based solely on the grassroots, heartfelt dedication of an entirely volunteer team,” Jean related. “It starts with Steve and his longtime GCCF Board and the 400-plus volunteers who bring the community the fabulous Barndance each summer. They are selfless — so kind, and the Barndance’s level of excellence —the tent, the generators, the entertainment, the beautiful flowers and décor, plus raffle and live auction items curated and all the food and beverages — is off the charts.”

“You just feel great afterwards,” Billy added of the Barndance experience. “At the end you know everybody had a good time. It’s just a special time —and you share it with special people.”

The Barndance set-up is underway and the energy is rising!

This Saturday, hundreds of friends will gather under the big tent in Woodstock for an evening of absolute fun! But every laugh, every bid and every ticket purchased helps make something bigger possible.

For 26 years, Barndance has helped Gavers Community Cancer Foundation provide hope, education, screenings, support and improved cancer care for families throughout McHenry County and the whole country.

If you haven’t made your plans yet, now’s the time. Grab your tickets, invite your friends, and join us!

If you have already made your plans to come, consider volunteering just a bit of time to make the Barndance run smoothly! Every parking attendant, raffle seller, auction helper, food server and setup crew member plays an important role in making this event a success.

There are still volunteer opportunities available. If you’ve been looking for a meaningful way to give back, we’d love to have you join the team and help us kick cancer to the curb.

-Tickets available here: https://www.eventbrite.com/…/2026-gavers-barndance…

-Sign up to volunteer here: https://gavers.org/volunteer-sign-up-sheets/?sheet_id=28

On Monday, July 13, at 6:30 pm, we will be having a Barndance Volunteer meeting at Ortmann’s Red Iron Tavern, 101 E. Church Street, Woodstock, IL

If you missed the May meeting, your free T-shirt will be available for pickup.

Reminder: Volunteers still need to purchase a Barndance ticket on Eventbrite here. Thank you for time and resource contribution to help fight cancer!

A message from president and founder Steve Gavers:
“Let’s get the ENERGY STARTED for Barndance, let’s meet some new people and get SUMMER STARTED, see you there!”

Don’t wait—get involved today, and join us on July 18 for a night of community, compassion, and celebration. We can’t wait to see you there!

Buy tickets here

Sign up to volunteer here

Sponsor and Underwriting options

How Susan Creath Helps Barndance Come to Life

Every summer, before the music starts, before the crowd fills the tent, and before the first guests arrive ready for the Best 7 Hours of Summer, Susan Creath is already thinking about sunflowers and cornstalks.

For Susan, the longtime volunteer who spearheads decorations for the Gavers Barndance, the details matter. From table centerpieces, entrance displays, and sunflowers to cornstalks, straw bales, cowboy boots, and sponsor tables, all the creative surprises help set the tone for an event built around hope, generosity, and community.

Those details matter because of the hope and joy they represent. “Volunteering and sharing your time and talent lifts you up just as much as it lifts others,” Susan said. “It fills your heart and soul.”

A Gavers Barndance Volunteer Since the Beginning

Susan has been part of the Barndance since the very beginning, back when the event was held at Donley’s Wild West Town. She got involved after hosting an October pig roast shortly after moving to Woodstock. A mutual friend of Steve Gavers connected her with the Gavers group, telling her she’d be a natural fit for decorations.

Susan went to the first volunteer meeting, and the team gave her room to create. “They just let me fly,” Susan said.

In those early years, when the Barndance was smaller, the creativity was already big. One fall event included carved pumpkins and cowboy boots. Over time, Susan learned what worked, what didn’t, and how to turn a fun idea into something guests could enjoy.

Sunflowers, Cornstalks, and Cowboy Boots: Creating the Barndance Look

Sunflowers remain at the heart of the look. Each year, Susan uses hundreds of locally sourced sunflowers, often arranged in mason jars across the tables. She also works with local farmers and volunteers to bring in cornstalks and straw bales to dress up tent poles and add to the event’s unmistakable Barndance feel.

Then there are the cowboy boots. Some became centerpieces. Others were transformed into lamps. Some were donated by friends who simply left a box on Susan’s front porch.

Over the years, woodworkers, florists, farmers, friends, and longtime volunteers have all added their talents to the effort. “Everybody has a niche,” Susan said. “It’s time, treasure, and talent.

Susan’s husband is a driving force behind all of these efforts. “He helps to build, create, simplify, haul, and set up some of my crazy ideas. He makes my ideas and dreams come true, year after year,” Susan said.

Creative Outlet with a Greater Purpose

For Susan, the decorating is more than a task. It’s a creative outlet and a meaningful way to serve. She describes the process as fun, challenging, and deeply rewarding. “It fills my heart and soul,” she said.

Her volunteer team has become part of that joy. Some volunteers return year after year without needing much direction. Others text to ask what she needs. Some remove labels from jars, pick up supplies, return finished pieces to her front porch, or simply show up on setup day ready to help.

“My volunteer team is priceless,” Susan said.

 Finding Hope Through Cancer, Family and Community

Susan’s connection to the Gavers’ mission became even more personal when her son was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2021. The following year, Susan was diagnosed with endometrial cancer.

“Going through cancer teaches you so much. Sounds strange to say but cancer brought many gifts along the way,” Susan said.

Through those wild turns, Susan said the Gavers community offered something priceless: connection, encouragement and hope from people who understood. “It makes you optimistic,” she said. “When your life journey takes these wild turns, it’s helpful to have Gavers by your side. It gives you a whole new second life- hope and faith, a positive lesson.”

Shining Bright at the Gavers Barndance

Susan never expected to call herself a cancer survivor. She also never expected how much she would receive by giving her time and talent to the Barndance. But after decades of decorating, organizing, creating, and simply showing up, she sees the work as part of something much larger than flowers and tablecloths.

It’s about healing, community, connection and using your talent to brighten others’ lives. “All the volunteers are just sharing the gifts they have to bring a bright light to others,” Susan said.

That light is visible throughout the Barndance, from the front entrance and the sponsor tables to the sunflowers placed with care across the tables. It shines through the volunteers who return year after year, the friends who quietly drop off supplies, the growers and builders who lend their skills, and the survivors and families who come together for a cause that continues to matter deeply.

For Susan, the Barndance has never been about the pain that cancer brings. It’s about the brightness that follows. And Barndance gives her the chance to continue shining bright.

You want to come to Barndance. You know it’s fun. You also know it supports a cause close to so many hearts. But then the thought hits:

“Can I really find nine other people to come with me?”

Finding enough people to take advantage of the 10-pack ticket bundle may sound like a big ask, but it can actually be one of the easiest and most meaningful ways to experience Gavers Barndance.

Instead of focusing on building the perfect guest list (only to start second guessing and sabotage yourself mid request), ask yourself this question: Who in my life who would enjoy a great meal, live music, community spirit and a chance to support local cancer research and programs?

Need some extra inspiration? Here are five easy ideas for building your Barndance 10-pack.

Intergenerational Families

Barndance is a great reason to bring the family together. Parents, grandparents, adult children, cousins, aunts, and uncles can all share the evening as a 10-pack (or two!). The night is casual, welcoming, and full of energy, making it a natural fit for families who want to enjoy time together while supporting a cause with real heart.

A group of 10 can come together quickly when each branch of the family brings one or two people. Before long, what started as a simple night out becomes a longstanding family tradition. [possibly include a hyperlink to the Hansen family story?]

Co-workers and Colleagues

Looking for a fun way to connect outside the office? Barndance makes it easy.

Invite your team, department, leadership group, vendors, or professional friends to share a 10-pack. It’s a relaxed way to build relationships, celebrate community involvement, and support the work of Gavers Community Cancer Foundation.

For businesses, filling a 10-pack can also be a meaningful way to show employees that giving back is part of your culture. You get dinner, music, entertainment, and a shared experience your team will actually talk about the next day.

Support Systems for Cancer Patients and Families

For many people, cancer isn’t a distant cause. It’s personal.

That’s why Barndance is the perfect way to rally your cancer support warriors, because it’s always been about hope, encouragement, and community. It’s a place where cancer patients, survivors, families, caregivers, friends, and supporters can gather in an uplifting environment and feel surrounded by people who care.

If someone in your life has faced cancer, consider building a 10-pack around their support system. Invite the people who showed up with meals, rides, prayers, encouragement, appointments, phone calls, and steady friendship.

That’s when a Barndance group becomes more than just a “10-pack” of people. It becomes a celebration of strength, love, and the people who help each other in the fight.

Class Reunions

Who says a class reunion has to be complicated?

Barndance offers an easy, community-centered way to reconnect with old classmates. No banquet hall planning. No long agenda. No pressure. Just gather a group, reserve a few 10-pack tickets, and enjoy a night filled with food, music, conversation, and hometown spirit.

And because Gavers is so deeply rooted in community, Barndance already feels like the kind of place where people reconnect. It’s the perfect setting for swapping stories, catching up, and remembering how much good can happen when a community comes together.

Facebook Groups

Sometimes your 10-pack is already waiting online. Neighborhood groups, alumni groups, church groups, mom groups, fitness groups, volunteer groups, and cancer support groups can all be great places to invite people to join you at Barndance.

A simple post can go a long way: “I’m putting together a 10-pack for Gavers Barndance. Who wants to join me?”

You may be surprised how many people are looking for a fun night out with a purpose.

The Fact: Your 10-Pack Is Closer Than You Think

The myth says it is hard to find nine other people.

The fact is, your Barndance 10-pack may already be right in front of you.

Think family, friends, co-workers, and classmates. Think about the people who have walked through cancer with someone they love. Consider the groups and communities you are already part of.

Then ask.

Because Barndance is more than a night out. It’s a chance to gather your people, celebrate community, and support the ongoing work of Gavers Community Cancer Foundation.

So go ahead. Start your 10-pack. You may fill it faster than you think.

Plenty of people say yes to a good cause.

Fewer say yes for decades.

Andy Hartlieb has done both. A longtime board member of Gavers Community Cancer Foundation and CEO of American Community Bank & Trust, Andy has been part of Gavers from the beginning, helping build a cancer foundation rooted in friendship, service, and the strength of a close-knit community.

“Steve Gavers and I grew up in Woodstock together,” Andy said. “I’ve known him my whole life. When he asked me to help with a cancer fundraiser, I didn’t tell him I’d think about it. I was in.”

That simple yes turned into a commitment that has continued from the earliest days of the foundation to the ongoing work today: raising cancer awareness, encouraging early detection, supporting local patients and families, and funding cancer research.

A Friendship Rooted in a Small Community

Andy remembers watching Steve endure surgeries, treatment, and the long emotional road that followed his cancer diagnosis.

Then came the idea. A simple barndance that would raise some money to help others.

From the beginning, this wasn’t just another nonprofit board or another community event. It was friends helping friends, neighbors responding to a need, and the people of Woodstock deciding that the fight against cancer deserved the full strength of the community.

Board Longevity Built on Trust, Teamwork, and Purpose

Gavers Community Cancer Foundation launched over 25 years ago with about a dozen board members. Many still serve today. That kind of longevity is rare. It also doesn’t happen by accident.

“The secret to the longevity for Steve and the board is that, since the beginning, it has always been about the team,” Andy said. “There’s no taking credit, no me-versus-you. It’s about communicating, working together, and keeping everybody’s eye on the prize.”

Many board members have served for 15 years or more. Some have faced cancer personally. Others have lost loved ones or fellow board members to the disease. That shared experience has deepened the work and made the mission even more meaningful.

A Community Foundation with a Clear Local Impact

In the early days, cancer detection in McHenry County lagged behind other parts of Illinois. The mission and message became clear: get checked. Early detection could change outcomes, and Gavers could help make that message impossible to ignore.

“It’s nice to have a fundraiser with friends,” Andy said, “but there was a serious need here. As donors and sponsors, we wanted to make an impact.”

And that’s just what they’ve done. Gavers touches people’s lives in real and personal ways, funding everything from local care, cancer screenings, and patient support to survivor services and research partnerships.

Northwestern Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Family Health Partnership Clinic, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, and the Testicular Cancer Foundation have all benefited from this small community’s generosity.

A Heart for Service

Andy’s professional life and volunteer service share a common thread. As CEO of American Community Bank & Trust, he helps lead an independent community bank focused on serving privately held and family-owned businesses.

“At the bank, we say that to be a good fit here, you have to have a heart for service,” Andy said. “Serving others is all we do. Gavers is very similar.”

That service mindset shows up everywhere in Gavers’ culture. Board members don’t just attend meetings. They work. They volunteer. They buy their own tickets. They invite sponsors. They show up for the event and for the mission behind the fun.

Why Andy Still Says Yes

Cancer can leave people feeling isolated, overwhelmed, and unsure of what comes next.

Gavers answers with community.

For Andy Hartlieb, being part of that work has been more rewarding than he ever expected.

“Every board member has gotten a lot more out of their association with Gavers than they have put in,” he said.

And in a community built on strong relationships, that may be the greatest success measure of all.

How Steve Gavers and a brotherhood of survivors helped Dan Wheeler turn pain into purpose

Dan Wheeler’s name belongs among Gavers Community Cancer Foundation’s Never Be Defeated award recipients for a good reason. He lives by a guiding principle to give people facing cancer hope—a mission he has committed to carry out for a lifetime.  

But the heart of Dan’s story isn’t the Never Be Defeated award itself. It’s a phone call that came when he needed it most.

A Low Point After Treatment

Before Dan became a source of encouragement for other men facing testicular cancer, he was simply trying to survive what cancer had left behind. Chemotherapy had weakened his legs. Neuropathy made ordinary tasks difficult. A hands-on person used to working with tools, Dan found himself struggling to hold screwdrivers and wrenches.

The physical damage was painful, but the mental and emotional toll was even worse. “I was having such a hard time getting my mental health straightened out,” Dan said.

One afternoon at work, Dan reached a frighteningly low point. He remembers thinking he didn’t want to keep living with the life cancer had left him. Then his phone rang.

Steve’s Call

It was a Chicago number. On the other end was Steve Gavers.

Steve had heard about Dan through a mutual connection and reached out the way Steve often does. He wasn’t giving a speech or offering easy answers. He just asked a simple question: How are you doing?

That call opened a door to hope, healing, and a brotherhood Dan didn’t even know existed.

Steve invited Dan to join a Thursday night Zoom call with other men through the Testicular Cancer Foundation. Dan started participating. Then Steve encouraged him to attend a survivor summit in Las Vegas, where Dan met the group in person and began building friendships with men who would change his life.

A Brotherhood That Understands

Meet Connor O’Leary, chief mission officer of the Testicular Cancer Society who won The Amazing Race with his father. A testicular cancer survivor with an extraordinary story of his own, Connor became part of a close circle of men who understand life after cancer.

Together, Steve, Connor, and Dan found something deeply needed: honest support, shared experience, and laughter.

That brotherhood opened a door to raw conversations about testicular cancer that few people talk about, including everything from fertility loss and sperm banking to retrograde ejaculation and the grief of realizing that having children may no longer happen as planned.

Turning Support into Service

As Dan got to know Steve and Connor, he saw how much good could come from men simply showing up for one another. Many of the young survivors they met were still early in life, and they were often short on money, resources, and support.

That’s when Dan stepped up even further. Each August, he and his wife Gina help host a Lake Arrowhead retreat for testicular cancer survivors. Around 15 to 20 men come for a long weekend of rest, friendship, and encouragement. Steve and Connor come to support Dan, just as Dan goes to Barndance and the Testicular Cancer Summit to support them.

The retreat gives survivors a chance to get out on the lake, try water skiing, and experience the kind of belonging that can be hard to find after cancer. Dan and Gina help remove the barriers—providing lodging and hosting a dinner—making it easier for men to say “yes” to the weekend.

Never Be Defeated

Dan credits Steve with pushing him toward that kind of generosity.

“I’m blessed to have things I can share,” he said. “Steve pushed me to do that. God blesses us so that we can share with others.”

Today, Dan Wheeler’s survivor journey is no longer about what cancer took from him. It’s about what he gives to others. That’s why Dan is a Never Be Defeated award winner. Because in one of his lowest moments, another survivor reached out. Dan answered.

And now, alongside Steve Gavers and Connor O’Leary, he keeps reaching out to others.