ST. CLAIRSVILLE — One area resident was skewered with jokes last week, all in the name of raising money for a good cause.

Ohio Cancer Research hosted its 28th annual Grand Illusions Saute at Undo’s West on Wednesday evening. The event honored President and CEO of Main Street Bank Richard Lucas. Lucas’s friends and family were there to “saute” him which, according to Ohio Cancer Research, is its version of a family-friendly comedy roast.

Ohio Cancer Research Executive Director Bill Boggess was the host of the event. The “Saute Chefs” included Joe Miller of United Brotherhood of Carpenters, who has been friends with Lucas since childhood; Brice Lucas, the honoree’s son; President of Beyond Marketing John Culler; and Undo’s owner and event Chairman Nick Sparachane, the 2016 honoree.

Boggess, who has been with Ohio Cancer Research for 23 years, said this event is his personal favorite in the entire state of Ohio.

“Each year we honor one of the most prominent, successful business people or civic leaders in the Ohio Valley area. It’s quite a who’s who of people in the region,” he said. “They offer themselves up for a little ridicule and fun in order to raise money for a really important cause.”

Richard Lucas was chosen to be honored by Ohio Cancer Research due to his numerous achievements and engagements in charitable and civic activities. Lucas is involved with the West Liberty University Board of Governors, the Greater Wheeling Sports and Entertainment Authority, the Wheeling Chapter of CPAs, the Hockey Club of the Ohio Valley, the Regional Economic Development Partnership and the Wheeling Amatuer Hockey Association.

“My really good friend Tony DiCarlo asked me if I would participate, and I can’t turn her down so I absolutely wanted to do it,” Lucas said.

He added that after accepting the invitation to be honored, he has been looking into all of the good things that Ohio Cancer Research does.

“When you look at the associations that Ohio Cancer Research is with — the Cleveland Clinic, The Ohio State University, and the many many doctors and support groups — it’s just a wonderful organization,” Lucas said.

Ohio Cancer Research has awarded over $8 million in new seed money grants, a type of funding that is provided to entrepreneurs and startups to help them get their businesses off the ground. Institutions that it has funded research projects for are The Ohio State University, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Case Western Reserve, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Metrohealth Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Hipple Cancer Research Center, University of Dayton, Wright State University, Ohio University, University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University.

Entertainment for the cocktail hour of the event was provided by The Eli Lambie Trio, and its statewide sponsors were Encova Insurance, Medical Mutual and Kimball Midwest.