News Photo by Darby Hinkley Friends Together Executive Director Melissa Burns, dressed as Mrs. Roper, holds the Stanley cup that will be stuffed with prizes and raffled off to a lucky winner at the inaugural Mrs. Roper Roundup. The sneaky Mrs. Roper behind Mrs. Roper is Fundraising Coordinator Shelly Gibbs, holding a cutout of Stanley Roper’s face.

ALPENA ­– Don your muumuu and curly wig and head on down to Player’s Pub and Grub on Thursday, March 28 for a hilariously fun fundraiser for Friends Together.

Mrs. Roper Roundup is a gathering of all the Mrs. Ropers around. The more the merrier. Helen Roper was a character in the sitcom “Three’s Company” from the late 1970s and early 1980s. She wore bright, colorful, loose-fitting dresses, her hair was big and curly, and she wore a lot of flashy jewelry.

Melissa Burns, executive director of Friends Together, will be one of those Mrs. Ropers, and so will Shelly Gibbs, Friends Together fundraising coordinator. The gals are looking forward to a fun event that will help support cancer patients and caregivers.

“I was scrolling on the internet one day, and I came across this event, out in California,” Burns said. “I grew up during the era of ‘Three’s Company’ … and it was a picture of all these men and women, and they were all dressed up like the character, Mrs. Roper, from the sitcom. I’m like, ‘This is hilarious! I need to know more about it.'”

So, she wanted to bring Mrs. Roper Roundup to Northeast Michigan.

“I thought we could turn this into a little fundraiser, but mostly so people could get together and have fun,” Burns said, adding that Player’s was more than happy to accommodate.

Cabin Creek Coffee will also be there.

“Cabin Creek and Player’s are teaming up to help make this happen,” Burns said. “It’s just going to be a really fun night.”

The event will be from 6 to 8 p.m., with a costume contest, karaoke, drink specials, prizes, and raffles. Tickets are $25, available online only. Player’s will be open to the public during the event, but those participating will receive a ticket on a lanyard that will enable them to be eligible for prizes during the fundraiser.

One of those prizes is a Stanley tumbler that will be stuffed with money and gift certificates from area businesses, to be raffled off.

“Mrs. Roper’s husband’s name is Stanley,” Burns said. “So, we have a really big Stanley cup. We’re stuffing the Stanley … If you buy a ticket to the event, you automatically have a chance to win the Stanley cup, which is worth $100 on its own, but you also get whatever’s in there.”

Burns is accepting donations to stuff in the Stanley.

“If businesses or individuals want to stuff something into the Stanley, they can come to us, or we can come to them,” Burns said.

She noted that Player’s is excited about the event as well.

“Player’s, they’re going to transform a section of the bar into the old Regal Beagle, if you remember from the show,” Burns said. “They’re going to have drink specials for us. They’re so on board with this idea. They have the best food.”

Player’s Pub and Grub is located at 113 S. 9th Ave., Alpena.

While the tickets are only available for purchase online, you can call Friends Together with questions at 989-356-3231. For tickets, visit the Friends Together Alpena Facebook page or friendstogethermi.org.

The event is open to anyone 21 and older.

“You’ll see that life is a ball again, laughter is calling for you,” the “Three’s Company” theme song by Don Nicholl and Joe Raposo states.”Down at our rendezvous.”

Burns explained how funds raised will help those with a cancer diagnosis.

“All the funds that we collect that night will go directly to support local cancer patients,” she said. “We support people going through a cancer experience and their loved ones. We help them get to their cancer appointments, we give them opportunities to attend support groups … we help people get wigs, we give out gas cards, we do one-on-one support. Every single day, we’re helping local cancer patients, right here in our community.”

Friends Together covers the counties of Alpena, Alcona, Montmorency, Presque Isle, Oscoda, and Iosco.