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Alivia Birdsley is the 11 year old daughter of Vince Birdsley (pinmanv on Pinside), one of my oldest and best pinball buddies. Just last week, doctors found a grapefruit sized cancerous tumor in her abdomen. Alivia will soon have surgery and start chemotherapy sessions. Rather than start school, like all the other kids her age, she gets to deal with this.
This shit isn't supposed to happen to kids!!
If you'd like more info on how Alivia is doing as she fights this, you can follow her on Facebook. Please like and share with all your friends. https://www.facebook.com/TeamAlivia
You can also follow her progress on Caring Bridge. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/aliviabirdsley
Alivia's battle won't be easy and as a parent and grandparent myself, I can't even begin to imagine. I tear up just thinking about it. Not only will this be an emotional drain on the family, but it will also be a drain financially. Anyone willing to help out can go to Alivia's GoFundMe page. As always, any amount you can give will mean the world to the Birdsley family.
http://www.gofundme.com/aliviabirdsley
If you'd like to send a card or some small gift (what 11 year old doesn't like to get mail), you can send it to:
Alivia Birdsley
2934 Bobcat Trail NW
Prior Lake MN 55372
--------------SAVE THE DATE--------------
Sunday, November 8th
Our good friend Brian Millard is spearheading a BBB (Beer Bash Benefit) at Alarys Bar in downtown St. Paul. We still have a few details to work out before the full announcement, but for a small donation at the door, you'll get all the beer you can drink, pinball machines set up for play ($1.00 a play, all proceeds go to Alivia), for you football fans, we'll have the Vikings on all the big screens, possibly a one ball tournament on one of the pins (for a prize, of course) and we plan on having a huge silent auction. We've already got items ready for auction and they may even include a pinball machine or two. Might even have a surprise guest or two.
For those unable to make the event, I've got some special items I'll be putting up on Ebay with all proceeds going to Alivia.
We could use a few more silent auction items. If you, or anyone you know, would like to donate please PM me and we can work out the details. If anyone has any other ideas as to how we can help out the Birdsley family, do not hesitate to let me know.
Anyone wanting to donate items can simply send them to me and I'll make sure they get included. Please include your actual name and also your Pinside handle. If you'd like it to be anonymous, I can do that too. Please send to:
Bryan Kelly
18890 Elgin Ave
Farmington MN 55024
If you have kids, give them a huge hug when you get home and tell them how much you love them. Tomorrow is promised to no one. Make sure you do it today!