Snowflex holds fundraiser for local child

Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre hosted more than 5,000 people on Saturday, Sept. 1, for “Kaylin’s Kause,” a fundraiser that brought in more than $7,000 for a 12-year-old girl with medical needs.

Kaylin Martin, a student at Faith Christian Academy in Hurt, Va., suffers from aplastic anemia, a rare blood disease where bone marrow does not produce sufficient new cells to replenish blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets). The money raised will help cover medical costs for Kaylin’s treatment.

From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, the community was invited to enjoy free skiing, snowboarding, tubing, a bake sale, a silent auction, and four live concerts. There were bounce houses, face painting, and balloon animals for children. It was the fourth Community Day Snowflex has sponsored this summer.

“After seeing Kaylin’s story and seeing some video on her, I couldn’t help but want to get involved and want to see how we could help,” said Drew Sherwood, general manager of Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre.

He enlisted the help of more than 50 volunteers, including members of Liberty University’s baseball and women’s basketball teams; Tatiana Payne, head coach of Liberty’s figure skating team, and her husband; Centra Health nurses; community members; and his own family.

Businesses and individuals also helped by donating more than 30 items for the auctions, ranging from $20 items up to $1,000-plus items.

Sherwood said he was able to spend some time with Kaylin during the event.

“Her faith in Christ at 12 years old is stronger than most people who are healthy and have been saved for 50-plus years,” he said. “Her heart and story is so moving and powerful.”

Her mother, Sandra, said she was “overwhelmed at the support” for her daughter.

“It’s definitely beyond anything I’ve ever imagined,” she said.