by Bea Peterson
Sandra Bass Carter was born and raised in Hoosick Falls. She lives with her husband Ron and family in North Carolina now. Her parents and her siblings still live in the area. In December Sandra was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. With radiation treatments and chemotherapy Sandra is hopeful she will go into remission. If she does, then she will be eligible for a stem cell transplant. She won’t be cured, but the transplant may allow her to live for many more years and perhaps see a cure found for her disease.
[private]When one of her sisters, Peggy Cottrell heard the diagnosis, she said, “I cried for three weeks. I’m a fixer, and I couldn’t fix this.”
Peggy added that Sandra had brain surgery in December at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC. Sandra’s insurance carrier considered the surgery out of network, and the copay was $5,000.
The radiation treatments, said Peggy, have a copay of $1,500.
Peggy couldn’t fix the cancer problem, but she could help, she knew. She and the family talked, and with family and close friends, they started planning a fundraiser. They became Team Sandra, with the motto “No One Fights Alone.” The three-fold event was held in the Armory this past Sunday, March 30. It began upstairs with a Poker Tournament from 1 to 5 pm. From 3 to 5 pm downstairs there was a Wine Tasting and Silent Auction, followed by a Live Auction at 5 pm. The place was packed with people who bid on 53 Silent Auction items and almost 20 Live Auction items. The turnout was much greater than anyone anticipated.
At the end of the evening the benefit raised $14,000. “For the first time in my life I’m speechless,” said Peggy. “Thank you seems minuscule.”
“We have just been overwhelmed by the community love and support shown my sister,” she said. The family has nothing but praise for the community. “You couldn’t live in a better place,” said Peggy. The cash raffle of $500, $300 and $200 was donated by MCS Cleaning. The winners of the first and second prizes, said Peggy, donated it back to the fundraiser. Kelly and Paul McMartin offered a Black Powder Gun raffle, and Sandra’s sister Sharon Bass donated a building lot at 37 Ball Street. The value of the lot is $20,000 and has village water and sewer. Their hope is to sell 200 tickets. If that many tickets are not sold by June 1 then Sharon will return the $100 ticket price to each ticket holder.
Sandra wrote a letter to “my family and friends” that was part of the program everyone received at the event. In part she wrote, “I don’t have the words to express my gratitude for all the love, support and, most importantly, prayers you have given me. I am truly blessed to have such amazing support as I face the biggest battle of my life – I so wish I could be there in person to give hugs and personally thank each and every one of you who helped organize, contribute, donate and participate in this fundraiser.”
If anyone who knows Sandra would like to make a contribution, they can send it to Sandra Bass Carter, 268 Fox Hollow Road, Petersburgh, NY, 12138.[/private]