THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 9, 1994 TAG: 9411080089
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: ISLE OF WIGHT LENGTH: Short : 43 lines
The 10-week-old, Chinese pot-bellied pig was such a big hit at the Saturday auction that raised $15,000 for Jason Holt's medical bills, that the pig got auctioned twice and finally given away - before he found a home.
A new $800 go-kart, donated by David and Michelle Jones of Smithfield, was sent for auction, but the couple bought the kart back at more than $600 - and then gave it to Jason as a Christmas gift, said police spokesperson Jimmie Garner.
And then, there were Jim and Virginia Sullivan, complete strangers to the Holt family, who donated $4,000 for Jason.
And the list of Jason's friends goes on.
That was the way friends and strangers responded to a 4-year-old boy, suddenly diagnosed in September with Burkitt's lumphoma, a cancer that spreads rapidly through the lymph glands. He is now undergoing very intense chemotherapy at Children's Hospital at The King's Daughters in Norfolk.
Jason is the son of Smithfield police officer Scott Holt and wife Melinda.
A crowd of more than 200 attended the auction last Saturday at the Isle of Wight Rescue Squad building in Smithfield. More than 500 items were auctioned, and many of the items came from sports celebrities like Tommy Lasorda.
But the gifts for Jason didn't stop Saturday. People are continuing to contribute to The Friends of Jason Holt Fund, which now holds more than $30,000 for medical expenses.
Garner said friends and family were overwhelmed by the community support.
``People would buy something, and then say, `Put a $100 on it.' Or, `Sell it at the auction again,' '' he said.
Scott Holt said he never expected so much from the people in his community.
``There's no possible way to thank everyone. . . . Words can't express what it's meant to the family.'' by CNB