Community rallies to help McNall

SANDPOINT — Thanks to the Bonner County community, Alan McNall won’t be fretting over finances during his fight against cancer.

McNall’s friends and family planned the barbecue feed and auction to raise funds for the lifelong Idaho resident’s battle against an inoperable grade four brain tumor. The amount of financial and moral support surpassed all their expectations.

Brother-in-law Todd Riley estimated that 1,100 purchased a meal while an additional 300 attended the event without partaking. Between the silent and live auction and meal revenue, Riley estimated they raised $75,000 for the McNall family. That figure doesn’t include raffle tickets sold for an all-terrain vehicle or the proceeds from V Bar X Ranch’s bull sale.

“We are extremely grateful and humbled by the degree of support from the community,” Riley said. “In the planning stages of this event, I don’t think anyone anticipated it turning out like this.”

 Riley said that credit goes to the immense amount of volunteer work and charity that individuals and businesses directed toward the effort. A number of people arrived early to help set up and prepare food. Afterward, many people stuck around to clean up the Bonner County Fairgrounds. Throughout the day, people continued to display generosity.

“Donations for the auction were showing up right until everything started,” Riley said.

The proceeds from the Saturday event will help cover the travel and living expenses generated by McNall’s frequent trips to the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle for chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

A third-generation Idaho rancher and farmer, McNall has served the region as a 4-H livestock leader and the Bonner County Fair beef barn superintendent.   

“If I tried to make a list of people and businesses to thank, I would leave someone out,” Riley said.

“I really want to thank everyone that helped us out.”