Community rallies for teen

Seth Norman has a lot of friends. They gathered in numbers last week to participate in a Soup For Seth Fundraiser organized by Sisters High School's Sparrow Club.

Norman has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkins B Cell lymphoma and has been undergoing chemotherapy treatments. The fundraiser was designed to help his family with expenses associated with Seth's care - and, just as importantly, to show support for an ailing comrade.

The turnout astonished the organizers.

"It was an awesome success," said Sparrow Club advisor Sally Taylor-Pillar. "We sold out of all the handmade (soup) bowls. We opened the doors around 5:20 and by 5:30 we were all sold out."

Fortunately, culinary teacher Janice Comfort took the initiative to make more soup than the Sparrow Club ordered, so they didn't run out - although some folks had to settle for broth.

Nobody seemed too concerned about that; they were there for Seth.

"Seth was there and he went around and talked to a lot of people at the tables," Taylor-Pillar reported.

He also spoke to the assemblage of 350 to 400 people.

"He represented himself quite well," Taylor-Pillar said. "I told him he has a future in public speaking."

Taylor-Pillar told The Nugget that Norman has just completed a heavy round of chemotherapy and expects to be able to gauge results in June.

For information on how to help Norman, contact the Sparrow Club at Sisters High School, 541-549-4045.