‘Love of Lauren Auction’ Aug. 1 to benefit Palmer girl

PALMER — The lives of Amber and Jeremiah Bartz took a new direction when their beautiful baby girl, Alyson Elaine, was born on Feb. 4, 2005.

Alyson, 8, has cerebral palsy, mitochondrial disease and severe scoliosis and is in need of a wheelchair accessible van after recently having some life-altering surgery.

The Grahams of Anchorage have never met the Bartz family of Palmer, but they’ve selected them as this year’s beneficiary of the third annual Love of Lauren Auction.

“We don’t get to celebrate what would have been our Lauren’s fifth birthday on July 15, but we can pay it forward in her memory,” Lauren’s mother Dana wrote in a fundraising letter about the event. She said helping other families is a form of therapy for her.

Lauren’s brother Garrett has also raised $3,000 from his Lemonade for Lauren events to help Alyson.

The family hopes to add to that tally at an Anchorage Silent Auction from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Aug. 1 at the Kaleidoscape Play Studio in the University Center.

Donations may be made online at fundrazr.com/campaigns/eVmb9/.

For more information, follow this story online through Alyson’s Facebook page, facebook.com/pages/Team-Alyson-Love-Support-for-A-Special-Girl-with-Complex-Needs/254577177932770?ref=hl.

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