Clara's Crusade This Saturday, February 3rd

On October 1, 2023, Clara Myrstol was life-flighted to Primary Children's in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was diagnosed with AML Leukemia. On her admission, Clara immediately started chemotherapy and received 14 platelet transfusions and 4 whole blood transfusions. The bone marrow biopsy from her first round of chemo brought her to a non-detectable status (no cancer found). She has gone through three rounds of chemotherapy and will receive a bone marrow transplant on February 28th, 2024.

Now, four months after diagnosis, the Whitehall community has put together a massive fundraiser event - Clara's Crusade - which will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at the Whitehall Community Center. Spearheaded by Carol Biedermann, Roberta Rawson, and Brittany Trodick, this event is sure to be a family-fun evening with all proceeds benefitting Clara's recovery.

The event begins at 2 PM at the Whitehall Community Center and will include games and prizes, a pay-what-you-can spaghetti feed, a silent and live auction, a live band, a bake sale, a photo booth area, and much more. Attendees can also write Clara an inspirational note to help in her recovery.

Silent and live auction items include first and second-cut hay, handmade art pieces, a stay at Pipestone Hotsprings, burger from Dunn Canyon Cattle, a photo package from Melissa Stratton Photography, photographs, cords of wood, and much more. There will also be two raffles - one for a bunny, and the other for a handmade quilt.

The fundraiser will accept debit and credit cards, as well as Venmo and donations via Spotfund. If you cannot make the event but would like to donate, Clara's Spotfund account may be found at https://bit.ly/3Sm3op2 (you may also scan the QR code below); the Venmo account is https://bit.ly/47XlG5Y. All proceeds of the event will go directly to Clara's family to help pay for medical and traveling expenses.

"Clara acts like a totally healthy little kid and hasn't needed much support after chemo so that makes it a lot easier," said her mother, Montina Rawson. Rawson added that Clara has been non-detectable since her first chemo, though doctors do not call that remission until after her treatments are completed. "But no cancer since then, praise God."

After her recovery from the bone marrow transplant at the end of February, Clara will remain in Salt Lake City for 100 days for observation. Clara will remain on a study drug for one year post-transplant in the hopes of maintaining complete remission and curing her cancer.

"We are thankful to our Lord and Savior for all progress she has made and is continuing to make," Rawson said.