The Turpin family, of Payson, Utah, is currently experiencing an ordeal that is every parent’s nightmare. They recently took little seven month-old, Amber Turpin, to the doctor because she was experiencing labored breathing. A resulting x-ray showed a strange mass growing in Amber’s chest. It turned out to be Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, a rare form of cancer.
With not very many cases of this form of cancer out there to document, doctors don’t have much data to draw from to treat the disease. But the diagnosis has already led to a series of surgeries and some aggressive chemotherapy treatments for Amber.
In the midst of this trial, a group of Moapa Valley residents are organizing a fundraiser to help the Turpin family. Amber’s mother, Summer Simmons Turpin grew up here in the Moapa Valley and was a classmate to some of the organizers.
“We went to high school together and we are still good friends,” said Casandra Munford of Logandale. “So we wanted to help them as much as possible.”
Munford and another friend, Taylor Halstead-Woodford, are planning a fundraising event on Saturday, September 23 at the Overton Fire Station 74. The fundraiser will be held from 9 am to 1 pm and will include a vendor fair of direct sales consultants in the Moapa Valley.
Both Munford and Hallstead-Woodford have successful direct sales operations. Munford is a LuLaRoe clothing consultant, while Halstead-Woodford sells the popular Paparazzi products.
The two are teaming up with six other direct sales people in the community with a variety of different product lines. Each will have a vendor space for attendees to make product purchases. A portion of all purchases made will be donated to the Turpin family to help with medical expenses.
In addition, a raffle will be held at the event. The cost of one raffle ticket will be $5, with five tickets costing $20. Being raffled off are a wide variety of great prizes donated by local and regional businesses. All proceeds of the raffle will go to the Turpin family.
