A small community is rallying around two lifelong friends who each lost a loved one within one day of each other last month. And this weekend, a silent auction is being held in Badger to raise money toward cancer and diabetes research.
Anne Cooper and Peggy Andersen have been friends since childhood. They've shared a lot of things over the years but didn't expect to be sharing their grief.
Just before Thanksgiving, Cooper lost her husband Gary to stage four lung cancer. He'd battled it for over three years, but the timing of his death was unexpected.
And just the day before, Andersen's 24-year-old daughter Kerri died from diabetic complications from the flu.
"Never would have guessed the situation was the way it was going to be," Anderson said.
To help both women in their grief, several friends organized a silent auction equally benefiting the Codington County Cares Cancer Foundation and Sanford Juvenile Diabetes research.
"Kerri was a twin and they had to do a fun picture together," Andersen said while looking at graduation pictures of her daughter.
And while the women don't know how much money to expect from the fundraiser, they are optimistic it will help give hope to other moms and wives in their situation.
"You've got to have hope and there is always hope," Cooper said.
The event is from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Badger American Legion Hall on Sunday.
The first location became too small after more people decided to help in the silent auction.
To be directed to the event's Facebook page, click here.
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