By Shannon Wright

You may find yourself wondering why the City of Minden is so passionate about their St. Jude fundraising efforts. The answer is in the hearts of so many people in the community with stories like Stephanie Barnette’s.

“Without St. Jude, I wouldn’t get to be ‘momma’ to these two healthy, beautiful kids,” she wrote in a Facebook post.

It’s stories like hers that have brought generations of people together to make this fundraiser an extraordinary event.

In the summer of 1990, when Stephanie Barnette was only five years old, she was diagnosed with Wilms Tumor. The prognosis was dismal. Her parents were scared, but St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital gave them hope. The young Barnette spent time at St. Jude and 35 years later she is alive and well.

She was very involved in the auction as a child, with her parents. She recalls telling their story on stage, pulling names out of the hopper and running around the civic center having fun.

Now, the auction has grown into a 4-day event with many different components. Barnette has continued the tradition, and her own children are involved in many ways. Her entire family supports the Minden St. Jude fundraising efforts with pride.

“There are so many people in this community who have a heart for giving their time, money and efforts to this worthy cause, and I’m proof that the blood, sweat and tears poured into this week each year, and the money raised for St Jude are saving lives,” said Barnette.

It’s these real-life stories, from people right here in the community, that bring this event to life.

“The best week of the year is about to begin,” said Barnette.

The Minden auction benefiting St Jude will kick-off Thursday, February 6 and run until Sunday, February 9.  You may visit on-site at the Minden Civic Center in beautiful downtown Minden, Louisiana, or tune in LIVE on KASO-AM 1240 or KBEF-FM 104.5, Optimum cable channel 11 or watch through live stream on the website: www.mindenstjude.com .