Team Nancy recently presented a $34,250 check to representatives of the Upper Peninsula Honor Flight organization from Escanaba after a fundraising event at Bob’s Country Bar in Niagara, Wis., on June 15 raised the single largest donation for the U.P. Honor Flight. At top, from left, are Paul Westrich, Team Nancy; Scott Lewellyn, U.P. Honor Flight; and Andrea Celello, Scott Aderman and Lori Walber, all of Team Nancy. In the middle row are Dave Celello, Trisha Westrich and Autumn Israel of Team Nancy; Sam Ethington, U.P. Honor Flight Mission XV veteran; and Jon Walber, Team Nancy. In front are Kerry Grippen, Team Nancy; Angie VanEnkevort, Kim Knauf Wyckoff and Scott Knauf, U.P. Honor Flight; and Dan Morin, Mike Celello, Rachael Butler, Brad Butler and Bob White of Team Nancy. (Theresa Proudfit/Daily News photo)

NIAGARA, Wis. — A fundraiser in memory of a Niagara woman lost to cancer about a year ago has raised the single largest donation to date for the Upper Peninsula Honor Flight.

Team Nancy — named for the late Nancy Morin, who died June 23, 2018 — managed to take in $34,250 from the June 15 event at Bob’s Country Bar in Niagara.

“We decided to do another benefit because Nancy’s was so successful,” said Dan Morin, referring to an event for his wife June 9, 2018.

“The U.P. Honor Flight approached the Niagara Lions Club for a donation and Brad Butler (Butler’s grandfather had been on a past honor flight) was so moved by their presentation we decided to do a fundraiser. Everyone chose to name our planning committee Team Nancy to keep her memory alive.”

More than 1,000 people attended the day-long event, which included live music by six bands from noon to midnight, food, drinks, raffles and cash drawings, plus bouncy houses and other activities for kids.

“Several of the bands donated back. It was outstanding entertainment,” said Kerry Grippen, a member of the U.P. Honor Flight Benefit Planning Committee. “We had the support of LongRiders who sold raffle tickets in advance all over the U.P. and Team Nancy donated $3,500 worth of T-shirts that the Honor Flight organization can sell to the public.”

In September, Mission XVII of the U.P. Honor Flight will take 75 to 80 veterans of World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam to Washington D.C. — at no cost to them — so they can visit the service memorials and monuments. The veterans receive airfare, meals, a deluxe tour bus, T-shirt and other items.

“It’s such a fantastic organization,” said Grippen.

Team Nancy plans to continue honoring Morin annually, Dan Morin said.

“We haven’t picked a cause for next one yet,” he said, “but we’re working on it.”

Theresa Proudfit can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 45, or tproudfit@ironmountaindailynews.com.