Courtesy Photo­Image Leah Bartles

Courtesy Photo­Image Sporting a new purse in June

Fundraisers will be held to help Leyha Jane Bartles, a 5-year-old Brady girl who is battling a deadly form of cancer.

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Neuroblastoma is a malignant tumor that develops from nerve tissue, usually in infants and children. There are only 650 cases a year in the United States.

Scientists say the disease is difficult to treat successfully with the most intensive therapies available.

Bartels was first diagnosed at age 3, but after many therapies, she was cancer free from October 2010 until May, when the cancer relapsed and chemotherapy began, according to her friends and family.

On Oct. 1, doctors at Children’s Hospital in Omaha found cancer prevalent in her bone marrow. On Oct. 24, Leyha and her parents Jason Bartels and Catherine Stewart flew to Cincinnati for a 10-day radiation treatment.

Both parents have missed work for a substantial time and help would be appreciated.

On Saturday, Nov. 10, a benefit auction will be held at the Depot Grill and Pub in North Platte from 6 p.m. to midnight. The award-winning band Blue Collar will perform from 8 p.m.-midnight. Proceeds from the cover charge will go to Leyha’s family.

On Sunday, Nov. 18, a dinner and auction will be held at the Brady Community Building. Dinner begins at 11:30 a.m. with the auction at 1:30 p.m. Rascal Entertainment will provide live music from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Cash donations are also accepted at Nebraskaland National Bank in North Platte.

To donate items for the auction in Brady, contact Shawna Davison, 308-530-9707 or Kathy Hoffman, 308-520-7214.