EatonvilleNews

An Outpouring of Love for Rick Petersen
Photos and Story by Bob Walter...

(photo by Bob Walter)

October 16, 2005: Rick Petersen, battling *scleroderma, was the guest of honor at a benefit dinner and raffle Saturday evening, held at the high school cafeteria. The many well-wishers finally gave Rick a break from conversation before the 8 p.m. raffle drawings began, so he could get a bite of dinner while his great niece, Tyler Miles, digs into dessert. Tyler's grandmother, Michele Roy (behind her) said, "I have always been so proud of this community. When Rick first came out here he didn't know anybody.
He has touched so many. Now, everywhere he goes he is surrounded by people who care. And that helps so much." Like her brother, Michele credits Donna Wheelock for spearheading the benefit effort. Rick has been fighting the disease since February. He recently turned forty-seven years old.

*Scleroderma means "hard skin," it is a chronic, degenerative disease that affects the joints, skin, and internal organs.

Tears of Love from Donna Wheelock...

(photo by Bob Walter)

A tearful Donna Wheelock presents Rick with over six thousand dollars collected at the event. More contributions continue to come in. A friend stopped Donna in the Plaza Market and offered their contribution, and other friends and neighbors who couldn't make the dinner/raffle have also pitched in. The total raised so far to help Rick with expenses has topped $6,500. Donna is credited with spearheading the fund raising effort.

A Light Moment...

As the raffle drawings progressed, the crowd was really getting into the spirit of winning. At left, Rick's sister Michele Roy shares a light moment with her sister-in-law Sue Petersen. Roy had just hung up the phone after assuring her neighbors she would safely deliver the prizes she just informed them they won. Organizers had turned prizes into ambience, skillfully scattering the colorful staghorn sumacs around the room.

A Sign of Support...

The community again showed its character Saturday night at the benefit Spaghetti Dinner and Raffle to benefit beloved Eatonville resident Rick Petersen, who has been battling the disease called scleroderma.

A Poignant Moment...

Rick Petersen was hugged again and again by well-wishers at the end of the evening. The outpouring of love for this man, who has many friends among the student body, high school staff, and the rest of the community, was very evident. Rick says he really misses his job at the school district, and the students, and hopes he can get back to it soon.

Touched by Community...

Rick gamely holds a stuffed toy duck - part of a raffle prize someone handed to him - as he accepts a hug from his sister Michele. Rick has made many friends in the few short years he has lived in town, and worked as groundskeeper for the school district. Said Rick, "I can barely put into words, the overwhelming, unbelievable feeling of support that has come from the community.
"Five years ago, when I moved here, I knew only my sister and her husband, Terry. I knew no one else, and nothing about, this community. In the last five years, I helped out on some of the community benefits, and came to understand how caring this community is, but all of a sudden it was about me. I couldn't be in a better place."

Just One Raffle Item...

Antique dishes - enough for a six-place setting with all the trappings - were donated for the raffle by Donna Wheelock. Said Rick Petersen, "Overall, it was Donna (Wheelock). She put in a tireless effort on this. Day after day she went out after work asking for prizes." Petersen also mentioned Mike Murphy, in charge of food ordering and lunch menus for the district, who helped out and would have been there working but had a family medical emergency. The food for the benefit dinner was supplied by Noel Ridgeway, owner of Plaza Market. The delicious dinner was prepared by Sally Nagley, Carol Chappell and Geri Zuelich, and served with help from some of Rick's biggest fans.

More Raffle Items...

Jordan admires the prizes to be won at the raffle to help Eatonville resident Rick Petersen, who will prepare for dialysis treatment Monday in his fight with scleroderma. The high school cafeteria was a veritable sea of raffle prizes - table after table, row upon row, walls lined with trees, shrubs and flowers, another wall plastered with prize descriptions. Participants purchased color-coded tickets for one, three, five or ten dollars - the more valuable prizes requiring the higher-priced tickets - and dropped their signed tickets through the window of the prize envelope. There were gift baskets, artwork, landscape materials, massages, bicycles, roller blades, dinnerware, power tools, and much more.

Mayor Candidate Chats with a Friend...

Louie Deck shares a story with Bobbi Allison before the raffle drawings begin. Allison is a candidate for Eatonville Mayor. She is a former planning commissioner and current member of the town council.

The Other Mayoral Candidate
Chats with a Friend...

Caleb Boettcher, Tommy Smallwood and his wife Karen visit during the benefit dinner/raffle for Rick Petersen. Smallwood who moved back to town last year was appointed to the planning commission by Mayor Bruce Rath in the summer of 2004..



	An Outpouring of Love for Rick Petersen Photos and Story by Bob Walter... (photo by Bob Walter) October 16, 2005: Rick Petersen, battling *scleroderma, was the guest of honor at a benefit dinner and raffle Saturday evening, held at the high school cafeteria. The many well-wishers finally gave Rick a break from conversation before the 8 p.m. raffle drawings began, so he could get a bite of dinner while his great niece, Tyler Miles, digs into dessert. Tyler's grandmother, Michele Roy (behind her) said, "I have always been so proud of this community. When Rick first came out here he didn't know anybody. He has touched so many. Now, everywhere he goes he is surrounded by people who care. And that helps so much." Like her brother, Michele credits Donna Wheelock for spearheading the benefit effort. Rick has been fighting the disease since February. He recently turned forty-seven years old. Scleroderma means "hard skin," it is a chronic, degenerative disease that affects the joints, skin, and internal organs. Tears of Love from Donna Wheelock...* (photo by Bob Walter) A tearful Donna Wheelock presents Rick with over six thousand dollars collected at the event. More contributions continue to come in. A friend stopped Donna in the Plaza Market and offered their contribution, and other friends and neighbors who couldn't make the dinner/raffle have also pitched in. The total raised so far to help Rick with expenses has topped $6,500. Donna is credited with spearheading the fund raising effort. *A Light Moment...* As the raffle drawings progressed, the crowd was really getting into the spirit of winning. At left, Rick's sister Michele Roy shares a light moment with her sister-in-law Sue Petersen. Roy had just hung up the phone after assuring her neighbors she would safely deliver the prizes she just informed them they won. Organizers had turned prizes into ambience, skillfully scattering the colorful staghorn sumacs around the room. *A Sign of Support...* The community again showed its character Saturday night at the benefit Spaghetti Dinner and Raffle to benefit beloved Eatonville resident Rick Petersen, who has been battling the disease called scleroderma. A Poignant Moment... Rick Petersen was hugged again and again by well-wishers at the end of the evening. The outpouring of love for this man, who has many friends among the student body, high school staff, and the rest of the community, was very evident. Rick says he really misses his job at the school district, and the students, and hopes he can get back to it soon. Touched by Community... b Rick gamely holds a stuffed toy duck - part of a raffle prize someone handed to him - as he accepts a hug from his sister Michele. Rick has made many friends in the few short years he has lived in town, and worked as groundskeeper for the school district. Said Rick, "I can barely put into words, the overwhelming, unbelievable feeling of support that has come from the community. "Five years ago, when I moved here, I knew only my sister and her husband, Terry. I knew no one else, and nothing about, this community. In the last five years, I helped out on some of the community benefits, and came to understand how caring this community is, but all of a sudden it was about me. I couldn't be in a better place." Just One Raffle Item... Antique dishes - enough for a six-place setting with all the trappings - were donated for the raffle by Donna Wheelock. Said Rick Petersen, "Overall, it was Donna (Wheelock). She put in a tireless effort on this. Day after day she went out after work asking for prizes." Petersen also mentioned Mike Murphy, in charge of food ordering and lunch menus for the district, who helped out and would have been there working but had a family medical emergency. The food for the benefit dinner was supplied by Noel Ridgeway, owner of Plaza Market. The delicious dinner was prepared by Sally Nagley, Carol Chappell and Geri Zuelich, and served with help from some of Rick's biggest fans. *More Raffle Items...* Jordan admires the prizes to be won at the raffle to help Eatonville resident Rick Petersen, who will prepare for dialysis treatment Monday in his fight with scleroderma. The high school cafeteria was a veritable sea of raffle prizes - table after table, row upon row, walls lined with trees, shrubs and flowers, another wall plastered with prize descriptions. Participants purchased color-coded tickets for one, three, five or ten dollars - the more valuable prizes requiring the higher-priced tickets - and dropped their signed tickets through the window of the prize envelope. There were gift baskets, artwork, landscape materials, massages, bicycles, roller blades, dinnerware, power tools, and much more. Mayor Candidate Chats with a Friend... Louie Deck shares a story with Bobbi Allison before the raffle drawings begin. Allison is a candidate for Eatonville Mayor. She is a former planning commissioner and current member of the town council. The Other Mayoral Candidate Chats with a Friend... Caleb Boettcher, Tommy Smallwood and his wife Karen visit during the benefit dinner/raffle for Rick Petersen. Smallwood who moved back to town last year was appointed to the planning commission by Mayor Bruce Rath in the summer of 2004.. Back to Top Back to Front Page





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