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49 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, May 11, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend February 22, 2004 Judy Sams of Central Point browses the tables at a garage sale benefit for the families of three nurses at Rogue Valley Medical Center. The sale, held at the Moose Lodge on McAndrews Road and Ross Lane, continues at 9 a.m. today. Mail Tribune / Andrew Mariman Coming to nurses’ aid Weekend sale benefits RVMC staffers whose families face their ownmounting medical bills By GREG STILES Mail Tribune The situation is life-threatening and the financial reality daunting for three Rogue Valley Medical Center nurses’ families struck by serious illness. Their co-workers are putting on a two-day garage sale this weekend at the Moose Lodge to raise money to help defray expenses, and the response was somewhat overwhelming Saturday morning. Somewhere between 300 and 400 buyers and browsers jammed the lodge, near the corner of McAndrews Road and Ross Lane. "This is as much as I expected to see all day," said Barbara Roberts, a registered nurse, taking stock of the dozens lined up at the check-out table. "There were people that didn’t buy anything that left three or five dollars." The sale’s proceeds are being split among the families of Susan and Steve Reed of Medford, Julie and Jeff McGinnis of Rogue River and Debbie and Gordie Gorham of Butte Falls. Advertisement Steve Reed, a principal at Rogue River Middle School, has been at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland. Late this week, Reed, who is suffering from metastatic Ewing’s sarcoma, underwent daylong surgery in which 15 pounds of tumor was removed from his right femur. "Even paying 20 percent of a bill for that kind of procedure can devastate you," Roberts said. Jeff McGinnis has been undergoing treatment for metastatic melanoma at the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, Calif. Because the center’s services fall outside the insurance provider’s plan, his treatment may not be covered. The Gorhams’ son Greg is battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia. "He has an 80 percent chance of full recovery," Roberts says. "However, it takes four to four-and-a-half years of treatment." Roberts called all over town before lining up the Moose Lodge in December. There was a hitch, however — a Friday night dance occupied the room until midnight and the sale items couldn’t be brought in until 8 a.m. Saturday. "We didn’t get enough time to price everything, so we told people to make an offer — they were understanding," said Steven Switzer. As is typically the case with garage sales, bargain hunters queued up early. By 8:30, 30 people were outside the door and by 9:15 the parking lot was clogged. They snapped up books, games, pottery, clothes and items destined for resale in antique stores or over eBay. Students Elena Roberts and Alexi Provost stayed up late Friday night baking cookies and brownies. Their self-styled Busy Bee Cafe sold out in about 30 minutes. "It was so crowded that it reminded me of our jog-a-thon at school," said Alexi, a Sacred Heart School student. Lorraine Kinion of Ruch arrived with the early throng and was still making the rounds 45 minutes later, newly found treasures in hand. "I wasn’t surprised by the number of people," she said. "The benefit draws people and they think they can get a lot more for their money." The sale continues at 9 a.m. today. Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times