Friday, September 18, 2026
5:30 PM, (EDT)
Date and Time
Friends Gala
Grab your FRIENDS and get to the GALA!
Friday, September 18th
@ the APlex in Alpena
- Dinner (Gourmet Italian Buffet by Thunder Bay Catering)
- Desserts (Exquisite Sweet Treats from Save Your Fork)
- Entertainment (Music by Bobbing for Piranhas)
- Live & Silent Auctions
- Raffle
Doors open at 5:30 pm.
Gather your F-R-I-E-N-D-S for a night of fun and glamour as BIG as the impact that we are recognizing - Friends Together has been helping people with cancer for 30 years!
30 Years Ago, Friends Together started as a Promise…
Following her oldest daughter’s diagnosis with colon cancer, Judy Burns and her family looked for support during her daughter Dawn’s cancer journey. While the Burns family found reputable medical care, they could not find people to talk to who understood what they were experiencing and found little to no supports or help for patients and loved ones in northeast MI.
Before Dawn passed away in 1995, Judy had promised her daughter that no one would face cancer alone as they did. She knew her life’s mission was to be present for others going through the cancer journey. Judy made the decision to stand up and be available for those in our community dealing with cancer, starting the nonprofit cancer support organization Friends Together in 1996.
Judy remained the cornerstone of the organization, helping countless
patients and families throughout northeast MI for almost three decades.
After her retirement, she continued on as group facilitator for the
organization until her own cancer diagnosis and passing in 2025.
Her youngest daughter Melissa Burns is now at the helm as the
organization’s current Executive Director and continues the work to
fulfill Judy’s promise.
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