Following a path strewn with golden coins, visitors to the Show Me Center Saturday night found it transformed into a classy Irish getaway.

Since it fell so close to St. Patrick's Day, the theme for the Cape Girardeau County American Cancer Society annual gala was "Escape to the Emerald Isle."

The gala is the organization's biggest fund raiser, each year bringing in more than $40,000. Tickets for the event sold for $150 per couple, and more than 300 people attended. A silent auction was held for 113 different items ranging in value from $40 to $3,250.

People could bid on everything from furniture to artwork, jewelry to bathroom fixtures.

In addition, for $50 per guess, patrons were encouraged to try their luck at guessing how many gold-colored coins were in a pot of gold. The end of the rainbow for that winner was an emerald and diamond necklace created by Jayson Jewelers and valued at $3,000.

Of all of the money raised, about 60 percent will be used for local programs, said American Cancer Society staff member Julie Causey. The remainder goes to cancer research and national programs.

While the room shimmered with sleek women in ball gowns and green beer from "Drury Nelly's Pub" helped create a lighthearted mood, the focus of the night's efforts was to help ease the pain of those living with and fighting cancer.

Local programs supported are numerous, and include the "We Can Weekend" camp for cancer patients and their families, wigs and turbans and recovery support groups and visitation programs.