Fayetteville resident Kelly Batcho has been named chairperson of the local chapter of the American Cancer Society’s fifth annual Barons’ Ball.

Batcho, who moved to the community from Ohio in 2002, said she was inspired by friends and neighbors four years ago to get involved with what was then a new fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. She served on the Barons’ Ball decorations committee for the past two years. This year, however, she said it just felt right to volunteer to serve as the overall event chair.

Fayetteville resident Kelly Batcho has been named chairperson of the local chapter of the American Cancer Society’s fifth annual Barons’ Ball.

Batcho, who moved to the community from Ohio in 2002, said she was inspired by friends and neighbors four years ago to get involved with what was then a new fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. She served on the Barons’ Ball decorations committee for the past two years. This year, however, she said it just felt right to volunteer to serve as the overall event chair.

“My father passed away in February after suffering from multiple myeloma,” Batcho said. “This is my tribute to him. I’m doing it in honor of my dad.”

Batcho said she experienced firsthand during her father’s illness the benefits of the American Cancer Society’s support of cancer research. Her father, Ronald Sattler, was initially given three weeks, but he ended up hanging on for two and a half years following his diagnosis.
“He lived longer than anticipated through the use of experimental drugs,” Batcho said. “His type of cancer is not curable, but it is treatable, and his life was prolonged through new research.”

Batcho, who owns Sew Bella Designs, a custom home sewing business, is no stranger to volunteering locally. For the past two years, she has served as president of Rising Starr Middle School’s PTO, and prior to that, she was the group’s treasurer. She is married to Mark Batcho and has two sons, Tyler, 15, and Travis, 13.

Batcho said she is particularly excited to serve as chair of the 5th anniversary Barons’ Ball, on November 3, 2007, as it promises to be the most exciting ever. The fundraising goal for this year’s event will exceed $200,000.

For the first time, the Western-style ball will be held at RiverWood Studios, a movie production studio located in Senoia. Consequently, the committee has chosen an appropriate theme for this year’s event: “Reel Cowboys with a Real Cause.” As always, Barons’ Ball guests can expect to be treated to a lively evening of dinner, music, Vegas-style games, live and silent auctions and much more.

In the past four years, the Barons’ Ball has raised more than $650,000 for the American Cancer Society. The proceeds from the event benefit local programs and services of the American Cancer Society that are offered free to the community along with funding research, legislative efforts and education.

Look for more announcements regarding the event in the weeks to come.

For more information on the 2007 American Cancer Society’s Barons’ Ball Fayette County, contact Nychelle Williams, senior community manager, 135 Bradford Square, Suite B, Fayetteville, GA 30215; 770-460-8920 x230 (phone); 770-460-1641 (fax); nychelle.williams@cancer.org. Or visit www.baronsball.com. To learn more about the American Cancer Society its services and programs please call 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

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