Blood donation opportunities

The American Red Cross announced blood donations opportunities.

Cottonwood: April 23, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Lakeview High School, 875 Barstad Road N.

Marshall: April 22, noon to 6 p.m., Marshall YMCA, 200 S. A St.; April 23, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Marshall YMCA, 200 S. A St.

Minneota: April 22, 12:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., St. Edward’s Church, 409 N. Adams St.

Canby: April 29, 1- 7 p.m., Schott Building, 104 11th St. E.; April 30: 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Schott Building, 104 11th St. E.

Granite Falls: April 19, 1-7 p.m., Kilowatt Center, 600 Kilowatt Drive

Wood Lake: April 29, 1-7 p.m., Community Center, 88 2nd Ave. W.

Wilder Outdoor Theater receives grant

The Wilder Outdoor Theater has received a Minnesota State Arts Board CSO: Creative Support For Organization Grant in the amount of $14,985. This grant cycle was created specifically to assist arts organizations significantly impacted by the Covid pandemic. The grant is awarded to organization with a solid history and strong promise for the future. The dollars will be used to help pay current operating expenses as well as develop new scripts, adding Covid protection on site, increase the theater’s social media presence and add closed captioning to some of the programming to make it easier for audience to follow the dialogue.

The Wilder Outdoor Theater is preparing for a live 2021 season with the outdoor drama “Fragments of A Dream” about the childhood years of Laura Ingalls and her family in Walnut Grove. Tickets sales started March 1. Dates are July 9-10, 16-17 and 23-24. The following weekend is the Loose Gravel Music Festival on Saturday, July 31.

To comply with health and safety regulations, social distanced seating, mask wearing and enhanced cleaning will be in place. For a more detailed explanation of policies, they are listed on the walnutgrove.org website.

Check out the walnutgrove.org website and click on the links to both the Facebook and YouTube channels to keep up with the latest information about this summer’s activities or call 888-859-3102 for tickets and information.

Avera Marshall Race joins with Avera Race Against Cancer

Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center’s annual Ride or Stride for a Cure event is now joining with the Avera Race Against Cancer.

The Avera Race has supported cancer patients for more than three decades by raising more than $8 million to enhance programs and services at the Avera Cancer Institute. This year’s event takes place Saturday, May 8, and replaces the event Avera Marshall historically held in early June.

“While we are making a bit of a change, we are still continuing with our 23-year tradition of holding a community race in the spring raising funds and cancer awareness,” said Abby Ahmann, regional director of philanthropy, Avera Foundation. “What started as Run With the Wind and was most recently known as Ride or Stride for a Cure is now the Avera Race Against Cancer. It will be so powerful to join with people all across the Avera footprint racing for the same cause in many of our communities at the same time.”

Like Avera races held in Marshall and Sioux Falls last year, this will be a virtual event allowing people to take part no matter where they live. Individuals can run or walk their preferred distance any time of day on May 8, or the days before or after as their schedule allows.

All proceeds from the Avera Race Against Cancer benefits local patients at Avera Cancer Institute Marshall.

“Funds raised locally benefit patients, survivors and families right here in our region,” Ahmann said.

All participants will receive a long-sleeved Avera Race shirt. To register as an individual or to form a team, please visit AveraRace.org.

People also have the opportunity to win a free race registration for their immediate family. The Avera Race Mustang, courtesy of Sioux Falls Ford Lincoln, is traveling across the Avera region. Watch for it in the Marshall area the week of April 12. Individuals who spot the Avera Race Mustang, snap a photo and post it to Facebook with “#RunThisTown” are entered to win.