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When Festival of Hope volunteer Amber Trenkle reflects on the annual event and organization, she thinks about a quote that she has come to know, “Hope is like the sun, which as we journey toward it, casts a shadow of burden behind it.” The quote resonates with her, she said, because of the mission of Festival of Hope, lessening the burden for people who are undergoing cancer treatment. Festival of Hope will return for its 22nd year on Saturday, June 15 at the Scotts Bluff County Event Center in Mitchell.

Retired Regional West oncologist Vince Bjorling and his wife, Vicki, were among those who spearheaded the community foundation of the same name. The Festival of Hope is the non-profit organization’s main fundraiser, though other fundraisers, big and small, help the organization meet its goal of helping cancer patients with non-medical expenses. Through the end of 2023, Festival of Hope has distributed over $4 million to 2,800 patients and their families.



The organization has also donated $230,000 to research and education activities. Trenkle is among those who have been involved in the Festival of Hope for several years. She became involved after being encouraged by Carol Diffendafer, a former social worker at Regional West Medical Center’s Cancer Treatment Center, who she came to know as the mother-in-law of her brother.

Trenkle was involved in another organization that raised money for cancer patients when Diffendafer encouraged her to volunteer in an upcoming Festi.

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