LEWISTOWN — A new fundraising event aimed at supporting local families dealing with cancer will be held Saturday at Kish Park.

The Mifflin County Cancer Rally is scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m. and will benefit the Bob Perks Fund.

Beginning at 4 p.m., attendees will hear from Executive Director Cindy Brown about the importance of the Bob Perks Fund, its mission and how community donations help local families facing cancer.

The event will feature live entertainment throughout the evening, including performances by Ed Varner at 4:30 p.m., the Exit 1 Mile Band at 5:30 p.m. and the Brus Mountain Band at 6:30 p.m.

Food trucks, including Danny’s BBQ and Pretty Little Pancakes, also will be on site.

Cancer survivors, including Jennica Deavor, will share testimonies during the event.

“I am going to talk about my own testimony as a cancer survivor myself, reminding others that no one is alone in the journey and encouragement,” Deavor said.

A survivor meal for cancer survivors is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

Raffle baskets and 50/50 tickets also will be available, with winners to be announced at 7:15 p.m. A remembrance walk will follow at 7:45 p.m. Additional activities are planned throughout the evening.

“This is the 20th anniversary for Bob Perks Fund, but this is the first time it has been held locally,” said volunteer Colby Guyer.

Deavor said she had been involved with Relay For Life for many years, but the event was canceled after 2024 because of a lack of volunteers and community involvement.

According to Deavor, organizers also found it difficult to connect with representatives from the American Cancer Society and wanted to keep fundraising dollars local.

With Relay For Life, funds primarily went toward cancer research, but Deavor and other volunteers wanted donations to directly assist families in the community.

In 2025, the Bob Perks Fund helped 35 families and provided $30,000 in assistance.

Although the Bob Perks Fund has helped local residents in previous years, it had not previously had its own volunteer board in Mifflin County. After Relay For Life ended, Deavor and former Relay board members contacted the Bob Perks Fund to establish a new local fundraising event.