Richmond community reaches out for 4-year-old’s battle with leukemia

There’s no telling what a street of neighbors can do when one of them is in need.

On Friday Sept. 11, friends, relatives and strangers came together for a carnival at Richmond City Park to raise money for Lacey and Bret Abbott, whose 4-year-old daughter, Taylie, was recently diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.

Melissa Roylance, a neighbor of the Abbott family, said the carnival was put together by a committee of neighbors who live on the same street. Within three weeks of Taylie’s diagnosis, they were able to get donations from several businesses in Cache Valley, as well volunteers, for a silent auction, raffle drawing and carnival that included games and food.

“I walked up and you can’t control your emotions,” said Lacey. “It’s overwhelming. It’s awesome.”

Lacey sat on a chair in the grass near a table where volunteers were selling tickets for the games, hamburgers and a bounce house. Her husband, Bret, was close by and both of them said neighbors did everything for the fundraiser. Bret called a friend the night before and asked if there was anything he could to help, but he was told to not worry about it. The carnival drew hundreds of people and Lacey said she didn’t know half of them.

“They are just a great, wonderful family that is very deserving of all of this help,” said Roylance, who was one of at least a dozen committee members wearing red shirts with “Taylie’s Hope” written on the front. “They are a great family. I think one of the reasons that we got such a great response is that we know them. We just love them. They are so friendly and so welcoming.”

At times the Abbotts seemed a little overwhelmed with all the support as friends kept stopping by to talk and offer assistance with babysitting, money or food. Lacey and Bret have two other little girls, 2-year-old Mayzi and newborn Sunnie, who have been bounced around on this journey with them the last couple of weeks.

The Abbotts are quick to admit not all of the help they have received has come from people they know. Bret said checks have been sent to them in the mail from people they’ve never met.

via The Herald Journal Serving Logan and Cache Valley > News > Taylie’s hope: Richmond community reaches out for 4-year-old’s battle with leukemia. By Manette Newbold