Game feed raises funds for young cancer patients

CEDAR RAPIDS -- More than 40 wild game dishes ranging from blackened alligator to Cajun pheasant alfredo were on the menu today at a banquet to benefit young cancer patients and their families. 

About 500 pounds of meat and fish went into a varied menu of game feed staples and gourmet stylings, according to Keith Lowe, executive chef at Coe College, who with his friend Gary McNeese oversaw the efforts of more than 30 volunteers.

While they cooked in the kitchen at A Touch of Class banquet hall on Mount Vernon Road, others grilled shish kebabs and fried fish outside. All their dishes came together just before 2 p.m., when more than 300 guests were poised to go through the buffet line.

As they have for the past six years, donations from the banquet guests will benefit the Aiming for a Cure Foundation, which supports patient care and research at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital.

Lowe said preparations began a week ago with the thawing and trimming of the donated meat. "Nine of us worked seven hours apiece on Wednesday prepping the meat and vegetables," he said.

More than 30 volunteers were engaged today in cooking the dishes and keeping the buffet line stocked.

"The key to pulling something like this off is lots of good help -- people who don't need supervision to do a good job," said Lowe.

For McNeese, this is his 23rd year with the game feed, which has always been conducted for charity. This is the seventh year the banquet has benefited Aiming for a Cure, he said.

Among the ingredients for this year's banquet were 200 pounds of venison, 60 pounds of elk, 50 pounds of goose, 15 pounds of duck, 50 pounds of pheasant, 30 pounds of rabbit, 12 pounds of alligator, 15 pounds of crawdad, 60 pounds of fish and 20 pounds of turkey.