FREDERICKTOWN – “Friends don’t let friends fight cancer alone” has been put into practice by the friends of Bailey Mast.
Mast is known in Fredericktown as a kind, athletic, outgoing, 23-year-old neonatal nurse; a former “Little Miss Tomato” and the 2015 Homecoming queen. No one expects a young person like Mast to get serious breast cancer; the kind of cancer that requires chemo, radiation and a mastectomy. Her illness will require long, intensive, expensive treatment and time off work while the medical bills and the regular bills will need to be paid.
While Mast and her family and friends were digesting this already devastating news, a new hurdle arose – she learned she was expecting her first child. The new baby, a boy, was welcome, happy news, but with the pregnancy, new and expensive treatment and recovery complications came into play.
Mast’s friends and family got the word out on the need to support her, and the whole community rallied.
“It immediately became a full-blown organic community effort to support Bailey; many people just started working together to get things organized," said her cousin and close friend, Emily Forthofer. "Prayer chains were formed; Mike and Lori Steel offered to host a benefit event on their farm; community businesses and individuals donated raffle prizes (and) baked goods, collected donations and volunteered to work the event. It was a true team effort.”
Over 250 people ate, engaged in conversation, perused the silent auction items and participated om skeet shooting, tomato tossing, corn hole and other events at Sunday's event. Auctioneer Matt Fowler got the whole crowd going on a successful bake sale, with many items going for over $100 and the top item being sold for $500 on a phone-in bid from Florida. The silent auction included jewelry, art, blankets, sporting gear, firepits and firearms.
Mast asked her friend, Leah Miller, to read her remarks that thanked everyone for their love and support. Her remarks are posted on her Facebook page.
Forthofer said anyone who wishes to help can email her at Emily.yarman23@gmail.com.
“We are not finished with our support of Bailey,” she said.
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