Sparrow Clubs help student in cancer battle

Seth Norman, a sophomore at Sisters High School (SHS), has been battling cancer since January. During a routine pathology following an abdominal surgery, Seth was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's B Cell lymphoma. Three days later Seth traveled to Portland to begin treatment at Doernbecher Children's Hospital.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is cancer of the lymphocytes (white blood cells). The cancer manifests itself in lymph tissue of lymph nodes, usually with swelling. Seth's specific type of cancer, B cell, is the most common type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

When the SHS student body heard the devastating news they immediately wanted to help - and they turned to Sparrow Club to take on the task. Sparrow Clubs, founded in Sisters, are organized to help students raise funds for families with children in medical crisis.

One of the first things SHS did was partner up with Black Butte School in Camp Sherman and adopt Seth as their Sparrow. Sparrow Club

advisor Sally Taylor-Pillar told The Nugget that Les Schwab stepped forward to be the corporate sponsor for Seth and has put up $4,060 seed money, and students will perform community service at $10 per hour to raise money for Seth.

Taylor Pillar said, "Although we already had Holly Davis as our Sparrow, we decided since Seth was a student here at SHS it seemed the natural thing to do, and the students really wanted to help."

Sparrow Club has been the glue that has brought the school, students and community together in the fundraising efforts.

Sparrow Club President Janelle Hjelmstad said, "It's been amazing how our whole community has pulled together to help out Seth and his family. Only a community like Sisters would be able to support not one, but two Sparrow families."

Norman will be officially introduced as the new SHS Sparrow at an assembly on Thursday, April 15, from 11:25 to 11:55 a.m.

Julia van der Laan is acting as coordinator between SHS and Black Butte School, who has partnered with SHS and adopted Seth as their Sparrow also.

"I introduced them to Sparrow Club, and they are very enthusiastic and excited about raising money for Seth," she said. "A lot of the students have already put in hours of community service and are in the process of setting up their own fundraiser. They're very excited about attending the assembly and meeting Seth."

Sparrow Club, along with Key Club, is sponsoring Sisters High School's big fundraising effort, Soup for Seth, which will be held Wednesday, April 28, at 5:30 p.m. in the high school commons. Soup will be sold for $5 in a paper bowl, and $10 in a hand-made ceramic bowl. Bread and salad will also be included in that price. In addition, there will be a silent auction with numerous items that have been graciously donated from students, teachers, friends and community members.

Some of the donated items include a fishing or bird-hunting experience at Big Falls Ranch, a one-hour massage, dinner for four, a raft trip, handmade quilts and homemade cakes and breads, a painting, a wood fish table and more.

"I'm so excited for Soup for Seth," said Hjelmstad. "It's going to be a night packed with soup, live entertainment and silent auction items. Everyone is so excited, and it's great to have support from both our school and community."

All proceeds from the soup dinner and the silent auction will go to Norman to help with bills and traveling expenses for his medical care.

When friends of Norman, Ryan Gridley and Max Hedren, heard of Norman's diagnosis they, too, wanted to help.

Gridley said, "Seth is like a brother to me and I've been working with him on restoring his 1976 Chevy Nova. One thing I knew was that he really wanted to get his Nova painted, and hopefully that will happen for him."

School-to-career coordinator Janie Sampson said, "We're hoping to get help from businesses in the community to get Seth's car totally restored."

Gridley and Hedren approached Van Handle Automotive, who agreed to donate and install a new muffler and exhaust pipe on Norman's Nova.

Key Club, with the help of advisor Michele Hammer, has set up a donation account for Seth at the Sisters branch of Bank of the Cascades. Any contribution would be greatly appreciated.

Seth and his family have been overwhelmed with the love and support they've received from the community.

"Kahlil Gibran said, 'Your children are not your children, they are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself,'" said Seth's father, Michael. "And as a family we have seen these words come alive in the response from the Sisters community during our most recent challenges. To all the wonderful and thoughtful people who have supported our son Seth and our family through these scary times dealing with Seth's lymphoma, it is difficult to adequately express our gratitude for the empathetic and spiritual outpourings of generosity of both a financial and emotional nature. Seth is now on the road to recovery, and we are deeply grateful for so many things and so many

people."

Michael added, "We would like to convey our thanks and admiration to the entire staff of the SHS, the Sisters community and special thanks to the doctors and the nurses at Doernbecher and St. Charles hospitals. The importance of friends, family and human kindness has never felt more comforting or more profound. We truly appreciate it."

For more information, contact Sisters High School at 541-549-4045.