Athens Waiters Raise $6,510 for Cancer Support

When the mayor, a police officer dressed as Spider-Man, and two women in pink aprons all compete to serve you dinner, something special is happening.

Athens, Alabama turned its local Applebee's into a fundraising powerhouse on April 16, pulling in $6,510 for the American Cancer Society. The Celebrity Waiters Night brought together everyone from Mayor Ronnie Marks to Athens High's football coach, each serving tables and collecting tips for cancer support.

The stars of the evening were The Pink Ladies, Kay Burlingame and Jackie Jackson, who raised an impressive $3,220 in memory of Jackson's daughter Staley, who died from cancer. Their dedication alone accounted for nearly half the night's total and helped push the event past its previous record of $5,368.

Athens Police Officer Michael Stainbrook served diners in full Spider-Man costume while firefighter Jordan Pugh worked the floor alongside chamber president Pammie Jimmar, herself a cancer survivor. The friendly competition kept energy high throughout the evening as each celebrity waiter worked to collect the most tips.

Mayor Marks noted that the event creates meaningful moments beyond the money raised. Diners and waiters often share personal cancer stories between courses, turning a meal into something more profound.

Sunny's Take

Sometimes the best community building happens over chicken tenders and honest conversation. Last year, Barbara Hemmeke stumbled into the fundraiser while traveling through Athens and discovered she'd found fellow cancer survivors celebrating hope. She had been cancer-free for seven years after her 2007 diagnosis.

The event has become an Athens tradition, proving that combining service, friendly competition, and a good cause brings out the best in everyone. This year's success shows what happens when a community decides fighting cancer matters more than who gets the biggest tips.

Athens just showed that turning your leaders into servers can serve a much bigger purpose.