Smiles and Fun Help Reach $20,000 Goal

SEELEY LAKE – Sunday afternoon was the best day for a party in months and a party it was. The sun added sparkle to the snow-capped mountains as the Seeley Lake community came out en masse raising thousands of dollars to support the Trevino family and their three-year-old daughter Addy.

This past July Addy was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. After coming through her radiation treatments with the spunk and energy of "the little monster" that her parents Jen and Treay affectionately call her, the family will return to Seeley Lake after their Make a Wish trip to Disney Land.

Steve and Cheri Thompson and Mary Lynne Jones organized the Carnival for Addy for Labor Day weekend. Due to the evacuations and fire situation it was postponed until Sept. 24.

"I think the timing was better than Labor Day weekend because we are back to being a town," said Cheri. "This is like the first event we have had in months and it is the first nice day there has been sun and clear skies."

The intent of the Carnival for Addy was to raise $20,000 to pay for the Trevino's expenses for a year. Once the carnival was announced, they kept track on a thermometer displayed near Cory's Valley Market's parking lot. It was up to $15,000 before the event.

There were games for all ages including face painting, ring toss, bouncy houses, ping-pong ball toss, balloon darts, toddler town and fish pond. Attendees could purchase burgers, popcorn and cotton candy or try their luck at the cakewalk. There was also a community donation-only rummage sale.

Of the 95 who played the ping-pong ball fishbowl toss, more than 70 left with a brand new goldfish. One boy, who rode his bike to the carnival had to call home to see if he could keep the fish. He told his parents that he went to the wrong booth and accidentally won a fish. He was allowed to keep the fish but decided to walk his bike home.

"It's been a great community event, it was really successful and I think everyone had fun," said Cheri.

The organizers never expected to raise thousands of dollars. The cake walk alone raised $250 of the $1,727 raised in ticket sales. The donation rummage sale raised $3,350.36 for a grand total of $5,557.36.

"This was the community donating their time and their stuff for the good of Addy," said Mary Lynne. She along with the Thompsons were so grateful to the community for their support and everyone who donated their time, money and goods to the event.

All of the leftover rummage items will be taken to Loving Hearts that will get first pick and then to the Seeley Lake Second Hand Store. Anything still left will be taken to Missoula.

With the remaining books, the Thompsons are going to put up a free library at the end of their driveway. They hope members of the community will join them by putting up a book box in their neighborhood and Thompsons will supply the books.

One of the volunteers thought the event was a great way to support Addy and the Trevino family but it was also nice for the community to have a fun event after an anxiety-ridden fire season.

"We've all been cooped up and on pins and needles," said the volunteer. "People are so tired of smoke and have been so anxious for so long that having something that is fun was a real stress-buster."

"It was amazing. It was gorgeous weather and just happy and fun," said Mary Lynne. "It was all about Addy but there was nothing sad about it. It was just joyous."