Silent auction benefits Solon teacher battling cancer

SOLON­ - Students, faculty and staff at Solon Middle School are rallying around a longtime teacher recently diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

On Wednesday and Thursday, a silent auction takes place in the school's cafeteria with all proceeds to be donated to the family of Roger Thompson to help cover medical expenses. The auction is open to the public and runs from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Thompson is a special-education teacher at the school, 313 S. Iowa St., and has worked there for 24 years.

'It hit us hard,” said Maryann Jedlicka, a secretary in the school's office who is helping plan the auction. 'It was just a shock when you hear of a friend or anyone who is really sick like that. You want to do anything you can to reach out and help.”

Among the more than 120 auction items are an Iowa football signed by Coach Kirk Ferentz, quilts, baked goods, two tickets to the Iowa-Nebraska football game, gift baskets, gift cards to area restaurants and businesses and four tickets to Solon High's winter musical.

Jedlicka describes Thompson as a kindhearted and generous man and said the entire community is rallying to support him and his family. The Gazette was unable to contact Thompson for comment.

In addition to the silent auction, Jedlicka said school staff members in a local band played recently at the Solon Station and the owner charged $5 to get in the bar and grill. All $600 raised that night was given to Thompson's family. Students and community members also put money in an empty fish tank in the middle school office, staff took part in a freewill donation with the incentive to dress in casual clothing and students donated money during Pride Week in exchange for being allowed to wear hats to class.

Jedlicka said although she doesn't know how much money has been raised, staff members hope to raise $10,000 through all of the fundraising efforts.

'As a middle school, we feel like we're one big family,” Jedlicka said. 'When you have a family member or friend become sick, you want to reach out and help them as much as we can.”

If you go

What: Silent auction to benefit teacher Roger Thompson

When: 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday

Where: Cafeteria at Solon Middle School, 313 S. Iowa St.

Questions: Contact Nancy Trow at (319) 624-3401