By RACHEL HUNTER

Staff writer

Cynthia Gault knew she would never forgive herself if she didn’t attend the fundraiser for Deanna Snyder.

“That little girl’s story just tore me to pieces,” the Lindsborg resident said, explaining that her granddaughter is close to Deanna’s age. “I don’t know what I’d do if my little Emily had a brain tumor. It’s got to be the worst thing a parent could go through. I came here today just to support the family. Money isn’t something they need to be worrying about right now.”

Gault is one of the area residents who went to the “Day for Deanna” fundraiser at The Big Scoop in Marion. The event was organized to offset the financial burden the Snyder family is currently facing from Deanna’s hospital visits and cancer treatments. Local restaurateurs Rusty Stenseng and Leann Smeaton said they were impressed with the community’s support.

Many, like Justine McKinnon of Marion, said they couldn’t resist coming to the fundraiser, knowing that the family really needs help.

“It’s great that the Marion community can really rally around this family,” McKinnon said. “They need all the money and prayer that they can get.”

A few, like Matthew Sterling, said they came to the fundraiser mainly to look at all the items available in the silent auction.

“Popcorn gets stuck in my teeth and cotton candy is just too sweet,” he said. “But there is a chance that I could really use something that is on the auction table. There’s a pretty good selection here — and there doesn’t seem to be many people putting bids down. I could probably put my name down and snatch something right up.”

While the silent auction tables were full, a few people said they had trouble contacting the owners to donate items.

“I eventually just went down to the Big Scoop and gave it to them,” said Frances King of Hillsboro. “It worked, but it would have been nice to be able to talk to them on the phone before I made the trip to Marion.”

Others, like Wendy Costello of Wichita, said they decided to come after reading the front-page story in the Marion County Record, knowing that they just needed to do something to help out the family in need.

“If I was going through something like that, I’d want as many people as possible helping me out,” Costello said. “The whole family is in my prayers.”

Organizers said they hope people will continue to support the family, even now that the fundraiser is over. Free will donations are still being accepted at The Big Scoop.