SHAMOKIN DAM — Ashley Brubaker can barely control her excitement about the annual 94.1 Cares for Kids Radiothon. Waiting outside the booth at the radio station for her turn to talk to hosts Drew Kelly and Ali Stevens, she squeals with delight.
She’s excited not just because the event will help make money to aid the Children’s Miracle Network, but because she gets to help.
“She very proud of this event,” said her mother, Deb Brubaker.
Ashley, 22, was diagnosed with autism and cerebral palsy as an infant and has spent her life trying to find ways to fit in. Helping run Ashley’s Auction, a silent auction that takes place during the annual Radiothon at the Susquehanna Valley Mall, Hummels Wharf, is one way she can do just that.
“She has severe anxiety disorder, and putting together this auction gets her out in public and meeting new people,” her mother said. “All we’ve ever wanted is for her to be one of the girls and to be a contributing member of society.”
The auction is set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the mall. Ashley and her family have worked tirelessly for a year collecting hundreds of items and are hoping to raise thousands of dollars for the Children’s Miracle Network and, more specifically, the Janet Weis Children’s Hospital at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.
The hospital holds a special place in the Brubakers’ hearts because that’s where Ashley received the essential care she desperately needed after birth.
“Without Geisinger, she wouldn’t be where she is today,” her mother said. “You need a good start in life, and that’s what we got at Geisinger.”
Denise Haddon, a member of the Radiothon committee, Kelly and Stevens are all grateful for the work the Brubakers put in to the annual auction. According to Kelly, the auction used to be something handled by the radio station, and it would bring in about $2,000. Then, he said, the Brubakers took over, and the proceeds skyrocketed.
“Last year, they raised more than $10,000,” Kelly said. “And it’s not anything we’ve ever asked them to do. They just want to do it.”
Haddon agrees. “The generosity of that family is incredible,” she said. “Their basement is filled wall to wall with stuff for the auction.”
The Brubakers leave no stone unturned when it comes to obtaining goods for the auction.
“They send out more than 2,000 e-mails to organizations and individuals asking for help,” Kelly said.
Ashley also goes door-to-door asking for donations. Speaking through her Dynabox, a device Ashley can type her words and phrases into that displays them on the screen and also electronically speaks, Ashley can explain on her own what she’s doing and why.
“Very rarely does anyone ever say no,” Haddon said.
Some of the items up for bid at this year’s auction are a 32-inch television from Best Buy, trips to both Jamaica and Las Vegas, tickets to events such as a Bruce Springsteen concert, a Washington Redskins-Pittsburgh Steelers pre-season game, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, a Phillies regular season game, a Baltimore Orioles vs. Tampa Bay game, a Pirates home game, the American Idol concert on Aug. 5 in Baltimore, Food City 250 Nationwide Series Race at Bristol Motor Speedway and Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway. There also are dozens of gift certificates to area restaurants and stores as well as for online sites and autographed sports memorabilia like a hockey stick signed by every member of the 2008 Olympic field hockey team and an autographed photo of the late Philadelphia Phillies announcer Harry Kalas.
In addition, there will be toys, books, music, quilts and items for the home, jewelry, fitness and sports items, electronics and tools.
Other events included in the Radiothon are Longaberger Basket Bingo, scheduled for 6:45 p.m. Friday in the former KB Toy Store, and the Princess and Pirate Party from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at the old Foot Locker store near the fountain.
“The Princess and Pirate Party was hugely successful last year,” Haddon said.
The kids get to go on a treasure hunt, find special treasurers, sword fight (with Styrofoam swords), have their hair, make-up and nails done and get photographed with real-life princesses. There will be crafts and projects, visiting therapy dogs and snacks. Cost for the event is $5 per child.
“The grand prize for the treasure hunt will be four all-day hand stamps for Knoebels,” Haddon said.
There also will be prizes for second- and third-place winners of the treasure hunt, which will send kids on a mission to find the 11 participating stores in the mall and collect “booty.”
For information about the annual 94.1 WQKX Cares for Kids Radiothon, call 271-6188 or visit www.geisinger.or/cmn.
-- Jerri Brouse is a freelance writer who lives near Lewisburg. E-mail comments to scoop@ptd.net.
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Ashley’s Auction a big part of Radiothon
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