Melissa Ritchey is one of the strongest people around.

Melissa has been struggling with cancer related illness for the past 11 years. In spite of this, she has managed to live her life in the mainstream and with as much normalcy as possible.

She has gone to school and obtained her LVN License and has worked as much as she could between setbacks caused by her illness; doing both hospital and private duty nursing, always to the delight of her patients.

She has continued to volunteer at the Poteet Strawberry Festival Association office and during the festival each spring. She is a favorite aunt to her nephews and has been actively involved with them their entire lives.

When asked how she does it, Melissa says, “I put on my Mary Kay and a smile and keep going.”

Recent complications with her illness have made it increasingly difficult for her to continue working. Radiation treatments for a brain tumor and recent development of fainting spells have made it impossible for her to continue work at this time. She has been struggling with only partial income from her nursing work since January.

While Melissa has to take care of her health needs at this time, unfortunately, life goes on, and the bills are piling up. She needs our material as well as our spiritual support right now.

There will be a community rummage sale fund-raiser for Melissa’s benefit on August 4, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Poteet Strawberry Festival Rotary Pavilion.

There will be three items for a sealed bids auction:

1996 Chrysler LHS-Antique Dining Room Suite-Hand made Quilt.

There will also be antiques, appliances, furniture, Live Oak seedlings, small hot tub, truck tonneau cover, new gasoline lawnmower engine, back to school clothing, sewing machines and many smaller items. Also available for sale: baked goods and cold water.

Anyone who would like to make a donation can do so by sending a check to any Wells Fargo Bank to the “Melissa Ritchey Donation” Account.”