CharYooperie honors Iron River volunteer behind cancer support ride

A routine delivery turned into a public thank-you when CharYooperie surprised Chris Shamion in Iron River and used the moment to spotlight the kind of quiet volunteer work that keeps local causes alive. Shamion was recognized for helping sustain Granny’s Gang Gearing Up, the cancer support bike ride that has become a familiar part of Iron County’s charitable calendar.

The surprise landed on April 20, National Volunteer Recognition Day, during National Volunteer Week, which ran April 19-25 in 2026. CharYooperie’s monthly giveaway relies on community nominations posted through Facebook, and Shamion was chosen for work that began with personal loss and grew into an annual fundraiser with local reach.

Granny’s Gang Gearing Up started after Shamion’s daughter-in-law died from cancer. From that loss came a 30-mile ride from Watersmeet to Iron River, a route meant to reflect the difficult journey faced by cancer patients and their families. What began as a gesture of remembrance has become an eighth-year tradition, and this year’s ride is scheduled for June 13 with proceeds going to the Iron County Cancer Unit.

The scale of that effort has grown beyond a single event. An earlier Iron County Reporter profile said the Shamion family’s cancer-related fundraising had topped $300,000, including money directed to the Iron County Cancer Unit. The 2025 Granny Bike Ride drew 28 riders who covered almost 21 miles, showing that the event has a steady core of participants willing to turn up for the cause.

CharYooperie owner Kalee Hernandez launched the monthly volunteer giveaway as part of the business’s effort to recognize people who give back, serve others or spread kindness. The Iron River shop, introduced in December 2025, sells Yooper grazing boxes and U.P. boards filled with Upper Peninsula and regional Midwest flavors, giving the recognition a distinctly local imprint. Hernandez’s selection of Shamion fit that mission: a newer small business honoring a longtime volunteer whose work has rippled across the county.

The recognition also comes during a busy stretch for cancer-related giving in Iron County. The Iron Area Health Foundation recently contributed $2,500 to the Iron County Cancer Unit to support Iron County volleyball Pink Out events, while other rides and fundraisers continue to keep attention on cancer care close to home. In Iron River, Shamion’s surprise was more than a gift box. It was a reminder that the county’s most durable support systems are often built by neighbors who keep showing up.