‘Abigail Day’ fundraiser to help 12-year-old Yucca Valley girl with cancer

We first met Abigail Snipes during a surprise visit from Santa Claus last Christmas. The 12-year-old has a bright smile and painfully a large tumor growing on her neck and upper chest, wrapping around several major organs.

“They removed 15 pounds of the tumor last month and found it was cancerous,” said family friend Paul Russell. “The young lady is giving it all of her heart. She’s such a vibrant spirit.”

Now weighing only 40 pounds, Abigail’s fighting Sarcoma, an aggressive form of cancer. She’s undergoing treatment at Loma Linda University Medical Center. Her parents and two sisters are taking turns driving back and forth from school, work in Indio and their home in Yucca Valley to be by Abigail’s side.

Loved ones and friends want to raise $7,000 to help the Snipes family pay their rent for the year and meet any of their additional needs. They’ll host “Abigail’s Day,” a community fundraiser March 28 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Yucca Mesa Community Center in Yucca Valley. The event will include a bake sale, cake auction, raffle drawings, vendors, a barbeque and more.

“We’re trying to be proactive to do something. We’ve all sat around, shed our tears and wondered what we could do. The community is working hard,” said Russell.

Friends and family have also started Cards for Abigail for anyone who’d like to write a card to Abigail and send her well wishes.

“There are people all over the world sending Abigail cards. She loves to read cards. This definitely puts a bright spot in her day when she receives this card,” said Russell.

For more information about the Abigail Day event, go to Facebook.com or donate at Gofundme.com