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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, September 21, 2012 · 16 Continued from page 15 Lots of children need help into the household as Brandy said she cannot return to her job until her daughter is well. "I can't leave her," said Brandy, choking back tears. "She's three and she's fighting for her life and she needs to know there is someone there with her." Indeed Savannah got visibly upset at one point Tuesday during the interview with The Oakville Beaver when her mother let go of her hand just to move to the other side of the bed. Brandy said that because her daughter can no longer speak, she needs someone who knows her to be present and communicate her needs to her caregivers. Friends and neighbours will attempt to ease Brandy's financial burden with the Sunday barbecue event, which begins at 2 p.m. Plans for the fundraising event started out simply as a backyard barbecue, but the circulation of Savannah's story has drawn numerous donations from a professional caterer and businesses that have contributed prizes for the event's silent auction and raffle. "We are a community that stands together for our children and each other. Brandy has always been an amazing mom and friend. We want her to be able to focus on her family right now," said Dawn Sutherland, Brandy's neighbour. "Savannah is a happy, wonderful little girl. It is heartbreaking to know that this family, or any family, has to endure this. We would also like to see more money spent on researching children's cancers, such as neuroblastoma. Maybe if we bring more awareness to this, another family won't have to live the nightmare that Brandy's family has been thrown into." The Herbert family can also be assisted through the purchase of the book Panso the Dog. For more information about the book, visit www.radixlumenmedia.com/thesavannah-herbert-fund.html. Brandy said it is amazing the way the community has come together to help her so she can focus on Savannah and not worry about losing her house or getting in over her head financially. Brandy is also calling on the community to give blood, stating that Savannah has had more than 30 transfusions since her arrival at McMaster. "They even ran out of blood once," said Brandy. "It is important, not just for her. There are lots of children in here and lots of children that need the blood, so anyone who can, just do it, please, because you really do save lives." VISIT OUR BOOTH Hamilton Ideal Home Show & Sale October 12th - 14th UP TO 30% OFF COUNTERTOPS Receive up to 30% off selected Caesarstone quartz countertops or 20% off Affinity solid surface tops when ordered as part of a complete kitchen between September 1st and October 31st, 2012. Let our award winning designers work with you to develop a design that fits your home, lifestyle, tastes and budget. Whether it is a kitchen, wall unit, or home office, we can design and build your dream project in our local manufacturing facility. Oakville 146 Lakeshore Road E (West of Trafalgar Road) 905-337-2865 Hamilton 1200 Stone Church Rd E (Just West of Nebo Road) 905-388-7293 www.hamptonkitchens.ca