By David Esteppe
A metal smith, a glass blowing artist and a jewelry craftsman are headlining the silent auction being held on Saturday, Dec. 5 at the Irish Pub in Lewisburg. Live entertainment will be provided by Patrick O’Flaherty and Possum Holler Glee Club.
Susan Chapman Thomas is coordinating this fundraiser as a rallying call for financial help for Brady Mickey and his family. Mickey is an area 16 year old in his third year of battling pancreatic cancer. “It is so critical right now for the Mickey family, we have to do the best we can to help them with the costs associated with taking care of this child,” Thomas says.
Thomas is a metal smith. Her husband Alex J. Brand is the glass blowing artist whose gallery is at The Greenbrier resort. Alan Anderson is a jewelry craftsman who uses rhinestones, pearls and an array of glamorous materials to create fabulous Christmas tree installations for framing and hanging. These three artisans have donated generously of their work for the silent auction.
Along with items from Thomas, Brand and Anderson, there are many items on display in the window of the former Old Hardware Gallery on Washington Street in Lewisburg. The items are on display until the event at the Irish Pub. For those wishing to begin the bidding on the items in the window now through Dec. 5, you may call 304-536-0112 and place your bid by phone.
Anyone wishing to donate items or gift certificates to the silent auction may drop the items off at The Greenbrier Valley Community Foundation (GVCF) offices upstairs inside City Bank at 109 South Jefferson Street in Lewisburg. Items can only be accepted at this location Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You may call Courtney Smith at 304-645-5620 for assistance.
In addition to the Irish Pub fundraiser, GVCF is working in conjunction with United Way of the Greenbrier Valley to collect and distribute charitable gifts for the Mickey family. All donations to GVCF fund for Brady Mickey are tax deductible. You may send checks payable to GVCF to P.O. Box 1682. Lewisburg, WV 24901. Write “Brady’s Powers” in the check memo line.
You may also go to www.gvfoundation.org and donate directly via credit card. Write “Brady’s Powers” in the message when prompted.
Mickey’s mother, Peri, says, “We are so grateful for the support of our community. It means so much right now. Brady is struggling a little bit and it is hard for me to focus on anything but taking care of him. I do want to say that anytime we can pay this help forward, we will.”
In addition to medical costs not covered by insurance, the Mickey family has incurred enormous travel expenses. Most of Mickey”s treatments occurred at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital where he endured week-long chemo treatments every other week for over a year. He is currently having additional chemo and radiation treatments at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
