Community comes together for Sparrow

Amid a galaxy of brightly colored balloons and live music by Americana Project students, 150 community members dined on soup and bid on silent auction items at Sisters High School Tuesday evening, in a hearty show of support for young cancer patient Avrey Walker and her family.

Optimism reigned at the Sparrow Club benefit, which featured an array of handmade ceramic keepsake bowls crafted by local artisans for purchase.

"The number of student groups that pitched in to make this event a success was phenomenal,"said SHS Sparrow Club Advisor Sally Taylor-Pillar.

Special guests were Avrey's grandparents, Les and Candi Walker of South Dakota, and her uncle Leslie Walker and aunt Karli Couch, of Redmond.

Emotions ran high that night for the family. Avrey's grandmother explained that a recent round of chemo irritated the lining of seven-year-old Avrey's brain, and the pain and complications she was enduring were the worst to date.

Avrey is in the midst of an intense two-year treatment plan following the return of her acute lymphoblastic leukemia last December.

Avrey's spunky personality shined through a video presentation. Then grandfather Les Walker addressed the crowd, saying, "We had no idea what devastation was" before Avrey's cancer diagnosis.

"With the Sparrow Club's help and God's blessing we will get her back," he said, breaking down with emotion. "We will get her back."

Taylor-Pillar delivered encouraging news to a round of applause: $3,000 more in cash donations came in from the community since The Nugget last reported (see Nugget article, April 20, 2011), and many items were donated for the silent auction.

All totaled, Tuesday's event brought in at least $4,400, and more is still trickling in as the one-of-a-kind ceramic bowls, crafted by local artists, are still available to buy.

"I am very moved by the response ... and so proud to belong to a community in which so many individuals are willing to help others,"said Taylor-Pillar as she totaled the receipts.

To purchase a bowl or make a donation, contact Sally Taylor-Pillar at [email protected] or 541-549-4045 x1018.