"Evening of Hope" For Rockford Child Battling Cancer

Rockford - It's an evening of hope for a nine year-old girl battling a rare form of cancer.

A fundraiser was held for Sophie Schwalbach to help pay for her medical expenses.  She's currently undergoing chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy.  Sophie should be a 3rd grader, but she's constantly traveling to hospitals in Madison and Chicago, which has kept her out of school.

She was first diagnosed last Fall.

Her aunt organized tonight's fundraiser and she says she's proud the community is coming together to help her niece.  "We just had so many people before we could even ask for something" says Melissa Budd, Sophie's aunt.  "People were already offering so it's really the community pulling together for her."

Budd says Sophie hopes to get a stem cell transplant soon.  She adds despite the uphill battle Sophie faces, she still managers to keep a very positive outlook on life.

If you'd like to donate, you can email skralph@comcast.net, for more information.