Tools

Community Comes to the Aid of Great Falls Woman Battling Cancer

By Rachel Ousley

Story Created: Jan 29, 2012 at 9:37 PM MDT

Story Updated: Jan 29, 2012 at 11:54 PM MDT

A Great Falls woman is fighting for her life and in a time when she needs it most is surrounded by community members, family, and friends as they step in to offer a helping hand.

Sue Marreel was diagnosed with Fibrosarcoma of the brain, a rare skull cancer, in November. Today strangers from the community join family and friends to support her. Marreel says, “I have money in my bank and I don’t even know where the money is coming from so it’s very good community”.

Marreel will be out of work until June, adding financial stress to an already emotional situation. The Great Falls VFW was crowded today for a benefit on Marreel's behalf. Proceeds will help pay everyday bills, mortgage payments, and of course medical expenses. She explains, “when I have my surgery in March the doctor may want half down”.

Benefits can be an important aid when medical crisis hits. Betsy Pulliam is a supporter at today’s benefit. She’s looking forward to bidding on a homemade blanket in the silent auction and taking home some goodies from the bake sale. She explains benefits are important because “a lot of people don’t have good insurance, some don't have insurance at all”.

Many businesses from across the region have stepped in to help, donating items for today's silent and live auction. Even strangers from the community have helped in any way they can like contributing to the bake sale. Marreel’s niece, Tammy Dunlop, helped plan the benefit. She’s been very impressed the immense response she had gotten from the community. She says, “a lot of people really want to help. They’re stretched so thin, but they still keep giving”.

Family and friends see Marreel as a pillar of strength through this whole ordeal. Dunlop says, “she’s been doing amazing, a lot better than I would do. She’s been very strong. She goes to church every Sunday. She’s got her head in her bible”.

The community support has touched Marreel. She doesn't know what would happen without the generosity of others, but she has always been confident things would work out. She says, “we would depend on our faith, the love of my family and friends”.

Community members enjoyed dinner, raffles, auctions and more this afternoon. Yet, perhaps the greater reward was making a difference. Pulliam says, “it brings awareness to the community that people are in need and we can do what we can to help them out because who knows we may be needing help in the future, so what goes around comes around, so we pay it forward”.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

News, Sports, Weather for Great Falls, Helena, and all of Montana and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

Great Falls & Helena Weather

Icon
Great Falls Great Falls Intl Airport, MT
Current Temp 84.0 °F
Fair
Wind : West at 12.7 MPH (11 KT)
Pressure : 1003.2 mb
Humidity : 15 %
Icon
Helena Helena Regional, MT
Current Temp 83.0 °F
Fair
Wind : from the West at 13.8 gusting to 19.6 MPH (12 gusting to 17 KT)
Pressure : 1005.4 mb
Humidity : 17 %
More Weather
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

AP Video