Brielle Bird is a seven year old from Holbrook who is beginning a second fight with neuroblastoma.  She was first diagnosed when she was four.  After initial treatment and then nearly two years in remission, Bird relapsed on January 17 this year.  As she and her family face the daunting and frightening task of facing this new fight against her cancer, the community showed up in force to help support her treatment through a massive outpouring of donations, prayers, and solidarity.  A dinner, silent auction, and live auction together raised thousands of dollars toward Brielle’s medical treatment, and allowed residents of Oneida county and beyond to show their generosity and compassionate spirit.

Her father Mitch spoke to the crowd on behalf of his wife Kendra and the rest of his family, saying “I don’t really know what to say.  Our family would like to start by saying how appreciative we are to each of you.  I was also asked to share how Brielle is doing.  Obviously, this is a relapse situation for her and we’re hoping for the best at this point.  She is responding to treatment well.”  Brielle’s grandparents Owen and Alicia also briefly spoke to the crowd of hundreds who had begun to gather as soon as the doors were opened for the silent auction.

Auctioneer Glen Gilles stated that though his work takes him all around the region, he always gets the best turn out, and “feels the most energy” at events in Malad.  The massive crowds bore witness to that energy, as both the silent and live auction components of the evening were heavily bid upon.

As with donations for the Crisis Center Gala, an outpouring of generosity led to a large number of auction items, from the exotic to the practical.

Some of the less common lots on the block included a guided hunting expedition in Africa for trophy animals, a guided steelhead fishing trip on the Sanke River, a multi-day stay at a cabin in Whitefish, Montana, a full-sized kayak, a miniature .22 pistol, a 7 cubic foot freezer, two handcrafted wooden planter welcome signs, a Yukon Solo Stove, and much more.  Jazz Tickets, a longhorn skull, pellet smoker, pallets of sod and loads of decorative rock, and baskets of themed materials were auctioned off alongside blankets, quilts, blessing dresses, tools, construction materials, clothes, and much more.

The event was supported and organized in part by Malad Elementary school, which was on hand to greet guests at the door, take donations, and manage the auction materials.  Students in the school’s leadership program helped Gilles display the items for auction hroughout the event.

The event was catered by Costa Vida in Logan, and the dinners also helped raise money for the family, who are facing an unimaginable series of treatments and hospital stays.  Kendra has a Venmo, which can be found @KendraBird15.