Casino Mine Ranch winery hosts cancer center fundraiser

Spend an evening with colleagues, friends and neighbors at the Casino Mine Ranch winery on Saturday, Sept. 27 to raise money for the fight against cancer.

The Amador Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) is hosting what they are calling the Fall Gathering at the Ranch to benefit research underway at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Small plates and appetizers will be served. Wine by the bottle or the glass will be available for purchase. Silent and live auction items include a Bishop Creek backpacking adventure and other exciting getaways as well as art and wine cellar dinners.

Tickets are only available online.

The ACRF raises funds for the Christine and Helen Landgraf Memorial Research Award, an endowed fund that has given annual research grants to cancer center researchers since 1973. The Landgraf Award was created by John and Helen Landgraf to honor their daughter, Christine, who died of Hodgkin's disease at the age of 27.

After Christine's death, the Landgrafs were determined to help raise money for local cancer research and treatment. The fund was modest in the early years and was supported mostly by close family friends. After Helen and John died, the Landgraf family, with the support of long-time donors David and Diane Logan, created the ACRF to continue their work.

Each year, the Landgraf Award is given to a cancer center researcher. The list of past recipients is extensive. This year's Landgraf Award will go to Andrew Birkeland.

Birkeland is an associate professor in the UC Davis Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. His research is focused on head and neck cancer, including developing novel technology to improve surgical outcomes, investigating biological drivers of head and neck cancer, and advancing liquid biopsy tests for cancer detection. Birkeland will accept the Landgraf Award at the Fall Gathering at the Ranch.

The event is from 5 to 8:30 p.m. and is open only to adults 21 and over. Casino Mine Ranch Winery is located at 10690 Shenandoah Road in Plymouth. KCRA TV's Tamara Berg will emcee the event.