By Anna Skinner
rare form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and was diagnosed in February. (Submitted photo)
Riley Children’s Hospital moved 16-year-old Paige Hufford and her family to Indianapolis from Illinois after she was diagnosed with a rare form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in February. Things have continued to go downhill since.
Heather Bridwell, a Westfield resident with a daughter in the Westfield Washington school system, will be organizing a fundraiser, called Paigey Strong, to take place from 5 to 8 p.m. April 16 at Maple Glen Elementary, 17171 Ditch Rd.
“Paige’s mom is a single mom, and she cannot work with Paige having chemo,” Bridwell said. “Our main goal for the fundraiser is to get enough to be able to buy a car, anything to get her from point A to point B.”
Hufford already went through one round of chemo, and the medicine made her so sick that doctors sent her on her Make-A-Wish trip to Clearwater, Fla.
The fundraiser will have a silent auction, a raffle, food and bounce houses, and the Westfield Fire Dept. will be in attendance. The event is free unless attendees wish to bid on an item or purchase something to eat.
Indiana Blood Center will also be there and those in attendance are able to donate blood.
“We would like to give back something since Paige has had blood transfusions,” Bridwell said. “We want to give the opportunity so people can donate blood.”
A live band will be performing. Some of the auction items include Indianapolis Zoo passes, restaurant gift cards, a year of free pizza from Hotbox and more.
For Hufford’s next round of chemo, her 13-year-old sister, Haleigh, will donate bone marrow for stem cell therapy.
Bridwell, who is a friend of the family, chose Maple Glen as the destination for the event because her daughter attended the school last year. Hufford attends North Central High School in Indianapolis, but stays at home due to her illness.
“We love Westfield schools. They’ve been so supportive through this whole thing,” Bridwell said.
