When this town’s Whitey Hagen decided to start up a cancer auction 25 years ago in memory of his brother who died of cancer, he had no idea it would have carried on as long as it has.

In 1985, Geneva Liquor Store owner Hank Thompson asked Hagen if he wanted to start up the auction at his business. He agreed, and the rest is history, he said.

The first year the auction raised a little more than $5,000.

Now, 25 years later, it has raised more than $850,000 toward the fight against cancer, Hagen said.

This year, the hope is for the total to break $1 million.

All money raised goes through the Albert Lea Eagles to the Eagles Cancer Telethon based out of Rochester. The donated money is used for cancer research at several universities in the state.

Hagen said over the years the Geneva Cancer Auction has been fortunate in that it has never really lacked for people.

“Counts have been good, and the support from the community and the surrounding areas has been good,” he said.

He’s hopeful of another successful year.

While this year’s auction will be similar to ones in the past, what makes this year special is that it’s the 25th anniversary of its beginning.

“We’d like to think in some way it has helped,” Hagen said of the efforts made over the years. “I’ve always said I’d like to be around for the cure.”

The 2009 auction will be Friday and Saturday and Jan. 16 and 17. On each of the Fridays the auction starts at 7 p.m. and on the Saturdays it starts at 2 p.m.

Going, going …

What: to raise money for cancer research. All money raised goes through the Albert Lea Eagles to the Eagles Cancer Telethon.

When: 7 p.m. Friday and Jan. 16; 2 p.m. Saturday and Jan. 17

Where: Geneva Liquor Store, Geneva

Information: 256-7552

“What makes it interesting is you never know what’s going to happen,” he said. “It’s not like a household auction where they put out a list of items that will be sold. We don’t know what we’ll auction. People who come will bring the items.”

The organizer said the board of directors gets ideas of things to auction from other cities and solicits for some items. Mostly, however, they are surprised the nights of the auction in what people bring.

Some of the highlights over the years have included homemade cinnamon rolls and other baked goods and quilts made in memory of loved ones.

Three years ago, the auction started selling Geneva Cancer Auction coins for $10 as a memento of the auction.

Out of all of the coins each year there are three silver ones — one that is auctioned off, one that is kept by the Geneva Cancer Auction and one that is given to the person who designed the coin.

A hand-carved truck donated in 2004 by Ryner VanWyngeeren that was purchased by Dale Tollefson will be brought back to the auction this year for bids.

This year there will also be raffles, including some for quilts and some for larger prizes such as a 52-inch LCD television and monetary prizes ranging from $100 to $500.

There will also be a few items on silent auction.

“You name it, and we’ve probably sold it,” Hagen said.

In the past, he recalls people buying pickles and opening them up and eating them on the spot. Others have purchased deviled eggs and passed them around for people to enjoy.

“Being involved in this, just the friends you’ve made over the years are priceless. Some of them you may never have met,” he said.

Jan. 14: Salad luncheon, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Jan. 17: Cablethon with live entertainment; white elephant/bake sale at 9 a.m., televised on Channel 6 or 14 on local cable; Jail & Bail from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; lunch at 11:30 a.m.; dinner of steak, chicken and shrimp from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Jan. 19: Breakfast, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

He encouraged people to get involved with the auction, and if people have something they’d like to donate but can’t get out to donate it, Hagen or someone else on the board can pick it up to bring it to the auction.

“I always tell people it has to be merchandise you would buy yourself,” he said. “The people have been real good.”

He issued a thank you for the support the auction has gotten during the last 24 years.

If people would like to make a special monetary gift, they can send those to Box 178, Geneva, MN, 56035. Checks can be made payable to Geneva Cancer Auction.

The only money taken out of the donations goes toward the auction’s accountant. Everyone else involved is on a volunteer basis.

To ask Hagen questions, call 256-7552.