Local Children’s Hospital guild raises money for research
September 23, 2009
By Laura Geggel
Ornament sale, auction planned for Sept. 26
Almost a year has passed since 10-year-old Natalie Smith received her bone marrow transplant.
Natalie Smith (right), 10, pictured with her sister, has endured bone marrow transplants in hopes of beating leukemia. Photo Contributed
Since then, the bubbly young brunette has made countless visits to Seattle Children’s Hospital in hopes of beating her acute myelogenous leukemia.
Natalie’s treatment included some complications to her pre-teen life. She has missed kicking the ball around the soccer field and spending time with her friends. To keep up with schoolwork, she used a robot with a two-way video screen at home to follow along with her classmates at St. Joseph’s School in Snoqualmie.
In early September, Natalie made it to the first day of school, but her hospital visits continue. To support and prevent cases like Natalie’s, her friends and family are finding ways to promote community support for research into pediatric cancers.
Natalie’s mother, Dene James, founded the Friends for Life Children’s Hospital Guild in 2006. Although she no longer directs the guild, James remains heavily involved, especially when it comes to fundraising.
“We really believe that the hope is in the research,” James said.
The guild will kick off its fourth annual hand-blown glass ornament sale at Finaghty’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, 7726 Center Blvd. S.E., Snoqualmie, at 11 a.m. Sept. 26. Proceeds will benefit pediatric oncology research, clinical research programs in leukemia and stem cell transplantation at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Glass ornaments will sell for $25 each.
Additionally, there will be a silent auction from 5-6 p.m. and a live auction from 7-8 p.m. with auctioneer local news anchor Brad Goode. A dance with the Po’okela Street Band follows the auction from 9 p.m. to closing.
Auction items include sports memorabilia from Ken Griffey Jr., Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus.
Last year the guild raised $4,000 at the event, but guild members have upped their goal to $10,000 this year, said guild vice president Lori Marshall.
To buy a glass ornament or to make a tax-deductible donation, visit the auction or www.friendsguild.org.
The guild also hopes to increase its glass ornament sales. It raised $23,000 in 2008, double of the previous year’s funds.
Every year, a patient picks the design of the ornament, made by Uptown Glassworks in Renton. This year Autumn Fairall, an acute lymphoblastic leukemia patient, chose the colors of blue and white, the colors her father sees while serving in the U.S. Coast Guard.
“It’s a really pretty blue with some white,” James said. “She was thinking of the ocean when she was picking the colors.”
James encourages people to buy the ornament to help support research at Seattle Children’s. Last year’s pink ornaments are still available on the Friends for Life Web site.
“They’re beautiful and they make great gifts,” James said. “It’s a gift that gives.”
Laura Geggel: 392-6434 ext. 221 or lgeggel@snovalleystar.com. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.
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