Volunteers Planning Gala Event for Kayla Rose

Tickets are now on sale for a Feb. 10 benefit event that will help the family of a Novato girl undergoing radiation treatment after the removal of a cancerous brain tumor.

, a second-grader at , is taking classes and trying to gain some weight during her long-term stay at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Nashville. The family expects to stay in Tennessee for six months, so a tutor at the hospital is keeping in touch with Lu Sutton teacher Lyn Boerio to keep Kayla on the educational track, according to family friend Kolleen Pahland.

“Kayla has been busy doing her school work and wants to be prepare to get back to (Lu Sutton) in September with her classmates,” Pahland said.

Back home, Pahland and an army of volunteers have put together a “Rose Garden Party and Auction” to raise money for the Dehnerts’ medical bills. The adults-only event is at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 10 at the and will feature a fundraising auction, great food and drink and music by the .

“How lucky are we to live in such an amazing town, surrounded by this much love?” wrote Kayla’s mother, Annie, on the family’s blog. “We have amazing friends ... old and new. Amazing. They leave me speechless and keep us standing on the toughest of days. Thank you!” 

Pahland said Monday morning that tickets were selling briskly and there is hope it will be a sellout at the 250-seat ballroom. The Hamiltones, a group of dads, plan to play for about two hours. Comic John Griffin will serve as the auctioneer and there are lots of great auction items, Pahland said. Anybody willing to donate an item is free to contact event organizers at 302-4075 or 948-5789.

Pahland, who has lost a child, said she is in awe by Novato’s response to the Dehnerts’ plight. She said contributions and in-kind donations have come nationwide.

“I’ve never seen a community rally around somebody they don’t even know,” Pahland said. “It’s renewed my faith in people. Right when people are worrying about their Christmas bills and property tax bills, they’re doing everything in their power to help.”

Tickets are $30 and unlimited drink tickets are $20. Click here for tickets.