Esther Waller, 6, hands money over to East Lansing resident Allison Berg for a purchase she made Saturday at The People’s Church, 200 W. Grand River Ave. Esther’s purchase contributed to more than $11,000 that were raised at a rummage sale held to benefit her brother, Charlie.
As his parents prepared for a charity garage sale — held Saturday at The Peoples Church, 200 W. Grand River Ave. — 2-year-old Charlie Waller played with a box filled with dinosaurs, one of his favorite animals.
Abigail and John Waller, MSU employees, organized the sale to raise money for their son Charlie, who was diagnosed with brain cancer April 1.
After Charlie’s diagnosis, Abigail Waller — field liaison and partnership coordinator in the MSU School of Social Work — told her 6-year-old daughter Esther about the lump in her brother’s brain that was making him sick.
“She said, ‘Is he going to die?’” Abigail Waller said. “I said, ‘I don’t know.’”
Charlie finished radiation treatments Friday for a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, or DIPG, an inoperable and fast-growing brain stem tumor. With treatment, he might have months or a few years to live, his parents said.
Some money from the sale will help fund vacations for the Wallers and future medical expenses, Abigail Waller said. Money also will be donated to two cancer foundations: the Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation and Brandon’s Defense Foundation.
Clothing and other unsold items will be donated to local charities, including Haven House, 121 Whitehills Drive, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, 1020 S. Washington Ave., in Lansing.
For Shannon Harkins-Padgitt — a primary organizer of the event who has known Abigail Waller since she was pregnant with Charlie — the money raised was an afterthought. Events such as the fundraiser are ways for community members to show their support for the Waller family, she said.
“Even people that don’t even know them have reached out,” she said.
Co-workers, family friends and former students of John Waller— a Lyman Briggs associate professor — were among more than 60 volunteers at the fundraiser.
When 2010 graduate Bobby Wells and history senior Michael Pakkala — John Waller’s former students — heard about Charlie, they wanted to help.
“I have no idea what to say to (John Waller),” Pakkala said. “What do you say to someone in that position? We can’t necessarily say, ‘It’s going to get better.’”
For Wells and Pakkala, volunteering expressed their support.
“There’s nothing you can say to that kind of news,” Wells said. “An opportunity to come up here and at least show support in a way that doesn’t require words (interested me).”
Community events both help raise awareness for childhood cancer and create a network of support for Charlie’s family, John Waller said.
“It’s vital to bind people around Charlie because his parents will need the support, and also his sister,” he said.
Now, the Wallers are planning an art show and silent auction fundraiser from 5-9 p.m. June 22 at Dublin Square Irish Pub, 327 Abbot Road. Local artists and students can donate original art for the fundraiser.
From helping with the rummage sale to bringing food to the family each night, the community has stepped up to help the Wallers, Abigail Waller said.
“It’s the random, spontaneous moments of kindness that are the most touching,” she said.
For more information or to help, visit friendsofcharlie.com
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