What started as a heartfelt tribute to members of the Maneotis family has since grown into one of the most impactful and emotionally driven fundraisers in Northwest Colorado.

For the Maneotises, the annual Victory Motors Cancer Drive is more than just a weekend event. It’s a legacy of compassion that was built from grief, hope and an unwavering belief in the power of community. Since its beginning, the fundraiser has grown into one of Moffat County’s most powerful, raising $222,500 to support local individuals battling cancer.

The 2025 event returns Saturday to the Victory Motors showroom in Craig and will be followed by the ninth annual Rick Upchurch/Teresa Maneotis Drive 4 Life Golf Tournament on Sunday at Yampa Valley Golf Course.

For the Maneotis family, however, the event isn’t just about dollars raised. It’s about the number of lives touched.

The Cancer Society of Moffat County, a small group that supports locals traveling for treatment, is the fundraiser’s primary beneficiary. The Maneotis family’s support of the organization is the result of their wish to help at a much deeper level than was present before the fundraiser existed. 

“We noticed that people weren’t asking for help,” she said. “They were just trying to go it alone.”

That realization led the family to start something of their own as a personal, tangible and immediate way to support individuals in the Moffat County community battling cancer.

“It’s just local,” Steve Maneotis said. “One hundred percent of it stays right here in Moffat County.”

What began as a single event has become an effort involving hundreds of volunteers, local businesses and families from across the region. This year’s Saturday night gathering includes gaming tables, live and silent auctions, a whiskey pull and a cash bar. 

Doors open at 5 p.m. with appetizers at 6 and activities running through 10:30 p.m.

Sunday’s golf tournament, hosted at Yampa Valley Golf Course, is named in honor of two people who’ve become central to the event’s identity: Teresa Maneotis and former Denver Bronco wide receiver Rick Upchurch, a cancer survivor and longtime supporter of the Maneotis cause.

“Rick’s been a huge part of this for years,” Steve said. “We’re really honored to have his name tied to it.”

But while the events themselves are fun and lively, what happens behind the scenes is often quiet and deeply personal.

The money raised goes straight to the society and then into the hands of cancer patients and families in Moffat County in the form of gas cards, hotel stays near treatment centers, help with bills and more. All of this, in the eyes of the Maneotises, provides a cushion in moments of total uncertainty for those afflicted and their families.

“We’ve had people say, ‘I don’t know how I was going to get to Grand Junction for my appointment,'” Irene said. “Because of this community, we can say, ‘Here. We’ve got you.'”

The process doesn’t involve recipients jumping through hoops. There’s no complicated application or waiting period. If someone in the community is facing cancer, there is immediate help at hand through the cancer society. 

“If there’s a need, and we find out about it, we act,” Steve said.

That immediacy is what makes the fundraiser stand out. It’s not just about money. It’s about care. Irene recalled moments when people dropped by their office in tears, overwhelmed that someone would do something just for them.

“There’s this humility in our community where people don’t want to ask for help,” she said. “But when they receive it, you can see the weight come off right away.”

The event has also become something of a living memorial. Many who participate do so in honor of someone they’ve lost. Through that shared sense of both grief and support, there’s healing to be had. 

“It’s emotional every single time,” Irene said. “Sometimes I go home and cry. But it’s a good cry — a ‘we’re doing something’ cry.”

Despite its growth, the Maneotis family insists the event remains grounded in its original purpose to give back to the community that’s given them so much. Victory Motors has been in the family for decades, and Steve sees this fundraiser as part of the dealership’s wider legacy.

“This community has always supported us, and we want to support it back,” he said. “That’s what it’s all about.”

For the Maneotis family, success isn’t measured in how many people show up or how high the final number climbs. It’s about knowing that someone, somewhere, will breathe easier because of what the community was able to create collectively in terms of support. 

“When we see someone smile, especially someone who’s going through the worst thing in their life, that’s everything,” Irene said. “That’s why we do it.”

And that’s why, every July, the Victory Motors showroom fills with laughter, music, bidding paddles and tears. It’s not just a fundraiser. It’s a gathering of hearts, all of which are driven by love.

For more information on this year’s event or to buy tickets, call 970-824-4422.