Local vet Matt Summerfield to be honored in weekend benefit
Matt (middle) with his kids. From left to right: Emma, Katie, Matt, Jake, Ethan.
BONNERS FERRY — This Friday, Oct. 16, a spaghetti dinner and silent auction will be held at the Boundary County Fairgrounds in support of local resident Matt Summerfield and his fight against cancer.
Summerfield, a Bonners Ferry man born and raised, was recently diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. After experiencing stomach pains, Matt was brought to Kootenai Medical Center for testing and soon after began his first round of chemotherapy.
After graduating from Bonners Ferry High School in 1998, Summerfield enlisted in the United States Army where he was a sergeant in the 82nd Airborne Engineering Unit serving in Fort Bragg, NC. Summerfield did tours in Bosnia and Iraq, where his duties included searching for roadside bombs.
Matt currently works for Idaho Forest Group and is described by those close to him as a “hardworking family man.” He has a husband, Mindy, and four children: Katie, last year’s Distinguished Young Woman; Jake, a champion wrestler at BFHS; and toddlers Ethan and Emma.
“Always one to offer a helping hand and never ask for help,” said those close to him. “At this time when he is unable to work and medical bills are mounting, we owe it to him to help in any way we can.”
All are welcome to the event, which will be held from 5:30-8:30, and anyone wanting to donate an item for the silent auction can contact Cassie Olson at (208) 946-8896 or Daniel Fairchild at (208) 610-9135.