CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Three authors will visit the Tri-Cities Barnes and Noble to celebrate reading and raise money for a Umatilla student battling brain cancer.
The 2015 Cavalcade Kick-Off to benefit Tieler Kuykendall runs from 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, May 28, at the book store in the Columbia Center Mall.
Tieler is a Umatilla High School sophomore who had suffered from arm pain for the last few years. An MRI in February revealed the cause of the pain, something no one expected – he had a softball-sized tumor in his brain.
Tieler has had three surgeries to remove the tumor and will soon undergo radiation. Because of his surgeries, Tieler was unable to attend this year’s Cavalcade of Authors, a day-long event where students meet and workshop with published authors. As an aspiring author, missing the event hit him hard.
“Tieler came to me at conference time heartbroken over the fact that he missed Cavalcade of Authors,” teacher Tammy Fisher said. “Well . . . if Tieler couldn’t come to Cavalcade, we became determined to bring Cavalcade to him.”
Working with Cavalcade Director Michelle Lane and Barnes and Noble Manager Wendy Lilly, the Umatilla team was able to bring Kevin Emerson, author of “Vampire’s Photograph” and “Lost Code” to an event to kick-off the new season. Emerson is also Tieler’s favorite author from this year’s Cavalcade.
Authors Stephen Wallenfels, T.M. Franklin, Maureen McQuerry, Nina Foxx and S.L. Whyte will also participate in the kick-off. After the event, Tieler will also have one-on-one time with Emerson to talk about writing.
Proceeds from the event will go to the Kuykendall family to help pay travel expenses to Portland for treatments and any medical expenses not covered by insurance.
For more information about Cavalcade of Authors and the kick-off fundraiser, visit Cavalcade of Authors website.
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