DECATUR — Community members raised more than $20,000 for June Walls medical expenses at Saturday’s Jump Start June’s Heart Chili Supper and Benefit Auction.
The Decatur Northside Elementary cafeteria was packedfrom wall to wall with people who had come to show their support of Walls.
Jane McAdoo, Sue Verser and Jackie Eaton - who all served on the benefit committee - declared the event a success.
“It really went well. A lot of people really worked hard, but it was worth it,” said Verser.
Walls is waiting for a heart transplant at St. Lukes Hospital in Kansas City and can’t leave the Intensive Care Unit until she gets a much-needed heart. Twice in thepast week, Walls has had the possibility of receiving a heart, and twice the prospective hearts did not work out, according to the women. Walls had surgery to install a heart pump and will be taken off the transplant list until her body is stronger, they said.
No one has a better idea of what Walls and her family is going through than Dale Russow and his wife Sharon. Dale is a heart transplant recipient that received his new heart four years ago. Dale waited in the hospital for 14 weeks before he received a heart, Sharon said.
The couple bought one of Wall’s unfinished paintings for $425 on Saturday night.
“It has so much meaning to us. That’s why we bought it,” Sharon said as her eyes filled with tears. As the bidding for the painting got heated, “I told him just keep bidding, we have to have it,” she said.
The Russows are eagerly awaiting the day that Walls can come home from the hospital with her new heart and finish the painting.
Walls has been a big part of the community.She attended Decatur schools from kindergarten until graduation and has worked at the elementary and high school for more than 10 years, as well as at the Gravette and Decatur swimming pools. Walls also serves as director of the Miss Decatur Barbecue Pageant, a title she once held. She is an accomplished artist and her artwork is displayed in the Iva Jane Peek library and many Decatur homes. The attendance to the benefit is a testament to how many friends Walls has and how many lives she has touched.
“I was just so proud of the people that came and the people that helped out,” said McAdoo.
“Decatur takes care of its own - It’s kind of like a family thing,” said Verser
“We want to thank everyone that contributed by helping out, donating or coming to the benefit to eat and buy things. We appreciate how they came together to support June,” said Verser, McAdoo and Eaton.
Donations may still be made to the June Walls Benefit account at the Decatur State Bank, P.O. Box 38, Decatur.
News, Pages 1 on 04/13/2011