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More than 50 area residents gathered at Ferndale’s
Babe’s Place Saturday evening for the “Last
Wish” fund-raiser benefit held on behalf
of 3-year-old Jay Ellis III, who is suffering
from an advanced, terminal state of aggressive
soft tissue cancer.
Regional branches of two motorcycle organizations,
the Canyon Riders Association and non-profit Bikers
Fighting Cancer, coordinated the event for the
Ellis family, where $5,400 was raised.
The funds are meant to help lift the weight of
the astronomical costs rendered from Jay’s
Rhabdomyosarcoma treatment at Seattle Children’s
Hospital since he was diagnosed at 18-months,
and to facilitate a means for the Ellis’
to take Jay on a memorable family trip.
Jay is participating in an extensive experimental
treatment study through Children’s to stop
the rapid growth of the life-threatening aberrant
cancerous tumor between his right lung and spine,
which doctors have explained cannot be removed,
said mother Deidre.
Businesses from Whatcom and Skagit counties donated
an array of products for the event’s silent
auction and raffle, which attendees bid on after
meals of hearty fare and musical performances
by Ferndale blues band Simple Machine.
“The money raised came a little bit from
everywhere,” said Bikers Fighting Cancer
co-president Bob Neff. “One elderly woman
walked in and handed a member $1,500 cash and
asked that we make sure it would go to the little
boy.
“Jay was there for the entire event, but
toward the end his daddy was walking around carrying
him after Jay fell asleep,” he said.
Donations can be made at Washington Mutual/Chase
Manhattan Bank branches, where a Jay Ellis III
account (3144692197) is set up.
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