'Cash for Ash' aims to help student in cancer fight

SANDPOINT — Ashley Halliday is moving steadily into her adult life, but she’s hit a serious speed bump in the road.

The Boise State University student was progressing through her studies this year without issue until March, when she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a malignant tissue and the most common form of bone cancer. While her prognosis is looking good, the medical bills and tuition costs from lost school time are striking at a particularly vulnerable point in her financial history.

However, friends and family are banding together to get her back on her feet and into the classroom once again. They’re planning “Cash for Ash,” a special benefit dinner catered by the Hoot Owl with live entertainment and a silent and live auction to follow. The Saturday event is scheduled for Jan. 19 at the Sandpoint Events Center from 6-10 p.m. Tickets cost $20 and will be available at the door or at Sharon’s Hallmark, Mays Honda, Northern Lakes Chiropractic, Payless Gas and New Age Hair Design.

The trouble started early this year when Halliday noticed some pain in her knee. As a highly active individual, she assumed it was an old complaint from an athletics-related injury, but eventually, she went to a doctor to have the matter checked out. Thanks to an especially thorough examination and some helpful imaging tests, doctors were able to pinpoint the tumor and get Halliday on a thorough chemotherapy program.

“Right from the get-go, they were super aggressive with the treatments,” said Abby Leisy, a friend of the family and one of the Cash For Ash planners.

In July, Halliday saw a specialist in Seattle, Wash., who oversaw a surgery that removed about five inches of her tibia and performed a total knee replacement as well as removing the tumor. That added a strict schedule of physical therapy on top of the chemotherapy treatments, the last of which occurred just before Christmas. Throughout it all, Halliday has kept her attitude positive.

“Right from the beginning, her mentality was, ‘Alright, I’m going to fight this,’” Leisy said.

In addition to the physical toll, the cancer treatments came at a steep financial costs. Not only is the family dealing with the significant expenses of chemo treatments and the surgery, but Halliday is also having to retake college classes she already paid for when she needed to take care of her health. It all adds up to thousands of dollars in expenses.

However, residents can help mitigate those costs by simply attending the dinner and participating in the auctions. Musician Devon Wade is set to provide live entertainment, and the evening promises to be an enjoyable one for everyone involved.

“In some ways, it’s more than a fundraiser,” Leisy said. “It’s taking place the day after Ashley’s 22nd birthday, so it’s kind of a celebration of Ashley, too.”

Visit the event’s Facebook page under “Cancer Relief Fundraiser for Ashley Halliday” to learn more.