Feed benefits local resident

Shawn O'Brien's idea of raising money for family friend yielded $5,477.

O'Brien put together a Dec. 15 bake sale and chili dog feed at Buck Run Community Center to help John Findley of Fort Scott, who is suffering from leukemia.

Some 200 hotdogs and an uncalculated amount of baked goods were sold. A total of $5,402.68 was raised and an additional $75 came in afterward. The Care to Share cancer support group also gave its backing.

An oversized check was presented to the family this week. "We had a wonderful turnout. I would say there were probably easily 250-300 people. It was just overwhelming. The outpouring of love Bourbon County showed us was tremendous. I'm so appreciative of this wonderful community and what they offered us. It just shows why I moved back," O'Brien said.

A Fort Scott native, O'Brien lived in Overland Park for 13 years before returning.

He has been friends with one of Findley's daughters since first grade and the family has been friends with O'Briens for many years as well.

The Findleys have four children -- Suzanne Griffin, Debi Fritter, Gina Findley and Jason Findley and many grandchildren. Griffin was gratified by the event. "I am just humbled. I'm humbled and very blessed. It's a good opportunity for my dad to see people who care about him," she said.

For his part, Findley, with tears welling in his eyes, was touched.

"You just don't know how many people you affect along the way, whatever you're doing," he said, adding people from as far away as Wichita, Kansas City and parts of Missouri attended.

The sale was held in conjunction with a Secret Santa rummage sale at Buck Run Community Center.