Businesses step up for Paisley fundraiser

BONNERS FERRY — More than 100 people showed up in support of 8-year-old Paisley Choate, who is battling leukemia. Despite the rain falling, soaking into the inches of fresh snow from the night before, the community stepped up on Friday, Dec. 20, following through with the conclusion of a Facebook auction started by Naples Elementary School Principal Harmon Newhouse.

The event was scheduled to initially take place at Mountain West Bank, where winning bidders could deposit their money into the Paisley Choate Fundraiser account, and then enjoy refreshments. However, the weather provided an obstacle, and Riverside Auto stepped in and provided the location for the event, both indoors and out on its covered patio.

Mountain West Bank and Riverside Auto were not the only businesses to help with the event. Elk Mountain Farms made tacos, served fresh,

accompanied by fresh-from-the-fryer french fries provided by Hubbard Ag Science. John Solt, Austin Veliz, Than Widner, and Nick Johnson volunteered in the preparation of the tacos, while the french fries were fried up by Mike Hubbard from locally grown potatoes. Gardner Grind was also there to keep people warm with its mobile coffee stand, donating the proceeds to help Paisley.

The numbers are not yet firm, because they are still awaiting winning bidders to deposit the money in the account, but if everyone holds true to their agreement, there will be about $40,000 to help Paisley and her family. This all came from about 300 people who donated everything from items to services, and the 1,500 members of The Paisley Choate Online Auction Fundraiser who bid on them.

Grant Marcoux, owner and blacksmith of Pilgrim Soul Forge, donated two items to the cause and attended the event on Friday.

“There aren’t many people who live in Boundary County, but to generate that much return, especially in a county that is not rich to begin with — it is remarkable. It is more of an expression of sentiment than of wealth,” said Marcoux.

“This is where I live, this is my community, and there was a little child involved that needed some help,” said Marcoux. “This is all about the community. The fact that people came together for this need. This is the way it was way back in the day — people came together, regardless of what they thought of this issue or that — they came together for the sake of a child.”

People were there to greet Paisley and her family with handshakes and hugs when they arrived at the event.

“It was incredible to have the Choate family attend. They are already traveling enough, and time is hard to come by with all they have going on,” said Newhouse. “They felt it was important for them to come and thank those that are helping the family.”

Paisley’s mother, Strephanie Choate, said that the money raised would allow her family to stay together and support Paisley.

“Paisley needs both of her parents, so we haven’t worked since she was re-diagnosed. She needed both her parents there and it got really dark in the hospital for about two weeks, and it got really scary — she just wants us both there,” said Choate. “This gives us the chance to be with her 100%, without having to worry about paying bills.”

Choate spoke about what Paisley faced and the toll that the leukemia has taken on her.

“She is skin and bones, literally just bones with skin over them,” said Choate. “That is the chemo — and the chemo didn’t even work, so they had to redo that whole 30-day process, just to prove that that is not going to work, to move on to the million-dollar CAR T cell process.”

The family will leave for Seattle shortly and will be there for about six months while Paisley undergoes treatment. Thanks to the community stepping up, the process has been made easier.

“It is beyond imagination. It is amazing, unbelievable, shocking, overwhelming, and just thrilling and loving — all those things,” said Choate. “We feel joy, and to find joy in such a dark time — it is possible. Thank you … to everybody.”