This past Sunday, Patty Baird of Coles County, had a benefit thrown for her in her honor.

The circumstances, however, were not joyful.

Baird has cancer.

But though the circumstances were not joyful, the event which ran from 2-7 p.m., was a quite a success and a good time, according to her sister Barbara Estes.

Estes said that they earned somewhere around $5,000.

“We didn’t have a goal,” Estes said. “We didn’t even know what to plan on.”

The money will be used for medical and travel expenses for Baird’s daily treatments in Champaign for radiation treatments, according to Estes.

She said that Baird just finished her chemo treatments and the doctors suggested she immediately move into radiation treatments.

Estes said her and she and Patty’s other three siblings help put together the event.

They were happy to see the event had such a turnout in attendance. Estes said the community really helped the event have success.

“That’s what our community does – they rally around,” Estes said.

Estes said the event had a silent auction, raffles and live entertainment. She said that two live bands played and one solo act. She said it really helped the environment.

Estes’ daughter Sarah also came up with an idea for her aunts event by creating a place where for a $20 donation, donators could design their own piece of a quilt that they had designed to be given to Baird at the end of the event.

“People got very elaborate and excited about doing their section of the quilt,” Estes said. “I thought it was a really creative idea and the people really seemed to like it.”

Estes also said that many local merchants helped by donating items for the raffle among other things.

Estes said First Neighbor Bank of Charleston even opened up an account for her sister for the donations she would receive from the event.

Estes explained that she thinks that it helped people trust that the event was legitimate.

She also was thankful for all the volunteer work that came to help out.

“Everyone that worked there and contributed did this for free,” Estes said. “They really got caught up in the spirit of this.”

Estes says she plans on sending thank you letters to all that were involved.

Donations can still be made Baird’s account at First Neighbor Bank located at 1415 18th St.