MARYSVILLE – More fund-raisers are planned for Reese Estes, the 2 1/2-year-old Marysville girl who is being treated for cancer at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

The first is Aug. 5 – a silent auction and spaghetti feed from 6-9 p.m. at Lake County Baptist Church, 8830 8th St. SE, Lake Stevens.

To donate items or more details call Becca Dalitz at 425-492-5205. On Aug. 19 a blood drive in honor of Reese and Layla Beckstrand will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Marysville United Methodist Church, 5600 64th St. NE. Layla, now 3, had 38 blood and platelet transfusions during her 1.5 years of cancer treatment. Reese had her first blood products within the last few weeks. Sign up at www.psbc.org.

In a few months, on Oct. 21, it will be Team Reese “Light the Night” 5K Walk from 5-9 p.m. at the Seattle Center. The event is free, but anyone wishing to donate or fundraise will be given a red balloon with a light inside that makes a stunning tribute to all who are fighting cancer. Sign up at pages.lightthenight.org.

Reese’s dad, Josh, said Reese has lost her soft, reddish-brown, curly hair after weeks of chemotherapy.

“We’re getting through it,” Josh said. “She’s a fighter. She’s in a lot of pain. It’s hard to watch.”

Treatment was delayed because Reese had a fever and also needed a platelet and red-blood cell transfusion. “That re-set the block. She has to be fever-free for twenty-four hours,” Josh said.

Reese also has had to be in isolation, so her sister, Ella, couldn’t visit her.

“When’s she coming home?” Josh said Ella keeps asking. Reese not been home since May.

Josh said his wife, Kelly, is physically and mentally exhausted.

“She doesn’t want to leave Reese’s side,” Josh said.

He added that there are some “great little stories of humanity amid the chaos.”

For example, the Mariners gave them tickets to go see a recent game against the New York Yankees. And, at a mall, a woman gave both Reese and Ella bracelets, explaining she had just overcome cancer.

Josh is blogging about his family’s experiences with childhood cancer at www.shudupcancer.com.