Friends rally to help Gusse with medical bills

PALMER — Friends of Palmer artist and businessman Greg Gusse have set up a series of fundraisers to help with the cost of his medical treatment.

Gusse has been diagnosed with stage 4 bladder and prostate cancer and needs to raise $7,000 to $10,000 to help cover medical expenses.

The first event is a lantern liftoff planned at Madd Matters as part of Palmer’s Second Saturday art walk from 5 to 8 p.m., Feb. 9. People can purchase lanterns for $10 each starting Feb. 1 at Rusty’s, Non-Essentials and Madd Matters. The lantern release is set for 6:30 p.m.

Barbecued hot dogs will all the trimmings also will be available for $5 at Madd Matters. And a show of his photography also will be on display in the gallery for purchase and enjoyment.

“Second Saturday was kind of his baby,” Statz said.

Next up is an art display and silent auction at Rusty’s at Dahlia Street, 320 E. Dahlia Ave., Palmer, March 4-24. In addition to artwork by some of the Valley’s most well-known artists, event organizer and friend Denise Statz said the silent auction will feature items for sale such as house cleaning and meal preparation by well-known Valley women.

“It will definitely be worth going over to see,” she said of the art at Rusty’s. “As interesting as Greg is, so will the efforts to earn money for him.”

Lastly, a spaghetti feed is planned at Rusty’s March 24. Stay tuned for information about a start time.

People also can donate to a fund set up for his benefit at Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union account No. 0000141599gu.

Proceeds from all of these events will go to Gusse to help defray his medical expenses.

For more information, contact Laurie Green at Lauriejogreen@gmail.com.