Raising funds for little Everly

ELKINS -- Multiple citizens and businesses throughout the community have banded together to help a 3-year-old girl who is fighting a form of kidney cancer known as Wilms tumor.

After Everly Gardner was diagnosed with the disease back in December of last year, her aunt Missy Rohr organized several fundraising events to help pay for many of her needs while going for treatment.

"The minute they told me that my niece had cancer, we started putting together fundraisers," Rohr told The Inter-Mountain. "Me and my daughter (Tubby Glasgow) have been doing everything we can to help raise money for Everly."

Rohr has organized an Auction/Cakewalk that will take place Saturday at the Dailey Fire Hall. The event will get underway at noon, featuring auctioneer Harvey Taylor.

Businesses throughout the community have donated items for the auction, which will feature several raffles, including one that includes Vera Bradly items. A concession stand will also be open during the event.

While out seeking donations for Gardner two weeks ago, Rohr unexpectedly had another fundraiser fall into her lap when she entered New Addiction Tattoo on the Beverly Five Lane.

"I stopped in and saw the owner Jerome (Gum) and he didn't hesitate when I asked him for a donation," said Rohr. "He asked me for a photo of Everly so that he could put a donation jar out on his counter. So I went out to the car to get the picture and when I came back inside he told me he wanted to do a flash sale to help raise money for her."

Gum told Rohr that during the sale he would do tattoos for $40, and that $30 of each one would go to Everly. 

"He only wanted money to pay for the ink and other things he was using while doing the tattoos," said Rohr. "He's an amazing person for doing what he did. We need more people like him in our community."

The walk-in flash sale took place Saturday and was an overwhelming success, officials said. Customers were lined up outside the door an hour before opening, and Gum did tattoos non-stop from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.

"He wouldn't take a break the whole day," said Rohr. "I kept telling him to, but he wanted to keep going so that he could raise as much money for Everly as possible."

At the end of the day, Gum had put new ink on 30 customers. Along with other donations collected during the event, $1,338 was raised to help Gardner. 

"I think everyone needs to start helping each other a little more in the world," Gum told The Inter-Mountain. "It was my pleasure to help out and I would do it again. I appreciate everyone who came out and donated to help Everly."

Everly is the daughter of Cory and Tisha Gardner of Elkins. Cory Gardner said the amount of support the family has received in the community has been incredible.

"I don't think we would have been able to get through the past couple months without the support of our family, friends and the community," he said. "We have received an amazing outpouring of love, and words can't describe it. So many people have reached out to see if we need anything. God has his hand on her (Everly) and we are seeing it all around."

Everly will be traveling to Morgantown in March to have one of two surgeries that have been scheduled. The family is in need of help for travel expenses and medical supplies not covered by insurance.

For more information on this weekend's event or to make a donation, call 304-591-5330 or 304-591-5354.