Fundraiser Held to Benefit Shenanigans Employee

Hundreds of people filled the back deck at Spanky's Shenanigans Pub, Saturday afternoon, to benefit 23-year-old employee Heather Baska who was diagnosed with two brain tumors back on March 29.

According to General Manager Jeffrey Ayres, both tumors were located within the right parietal lobe of her brain, which controls optical sensory perception and left side motor skills. 

On April 18, she underwent surgery, in Fairfax, to have each tumor removed, which were found to be Stage 4 Aggressive Glioma. Ayers said her treatment will be a minimal of 6 to 12 months of chemotherapy and radiation with a 50/50 chance of reocurrance.

As a result, Ayers said he wanted to do something that would help with any medical costs that her health insurance might not cover. In less than a month his staff helped put together Saturday's event, which raised well over $10,000.

"My goal is to give her enough stable support and foundation financially for her to be able to afford to take this amount of time off as well as letting her understand and realize that the community, especially our community, is very much a family," Ayers said. 

Ayers described Baska as a "glass half-full type person" who is confident that this is something she's going to kick. Ayers also said she is the strongest 23-year-old he could ever possibly imagine.  

To prove just how strong she was, Baska joined her mother, Teri White, and step father, Daniel, during the fundraising event. Wearing a smile on her face it was hard to believe exactly what she was going through on the inside.  

"I have bad days and I have good days as far as how I feel about it. It's a little weird," Baska described. "I like to think everything happens for a reason and although I may spend a couple days thinking what it is, you know, it doesn't matter. It's happening and I'm way to stubborn to let it drag me down."

Baska, who is originally from Washington state, has been a waitress and bartender at Spanky's for about a year in a half.  Based on treatment and her progress it could be at least 6 months, if not longer, until she can return back to work. 

Seeing the amount of people who came to show their support was amazing, she said, and is the kind of thing that get's her through each day.  

"It's absolutely incredible. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around it. To know that so many people care enough to put this all together is amazing."

During the event, a number of items were available for bidding, which included a large variety of gift baskets and certificates. A personal chef service, for up to twenty people, by Former White House Executive Chef, Author and Iron Chef Winner Walter Schieb was also up for grabs.

On the menu were Chef specials created specifically for the event. Entertainment was provided by six different bands, including Miguel Aubertin, Fast Eddie & Friends and Seventh Son. All proceeds raised will go towards the benefit.

"This is a God send. These people, I would say half of them, do not know Heather and they have put thousands and thousands of dollars towards her," said Baska's step father, Daniel White.

"I'm overwhelmed. I'm completely overwhelmed and blown away," added Baska's mother, Teri White. "So many people have come forward and talked about their own experiences with this disease. Whether it's the same thing she has or something similiar. I've had  several survivors talk to her and talk to me and encourage us with names of doctors that they've worked with or been too." 

White and her husband Daniel both said that they believe Baska will get through this and that it's nice to see a large amount of people cheering her on.

"She is a very strong person, she's very strong-willed, very stubborn, which I hope will serve her well," Teri White said. "I'm sure she's got some difficult times coming ahead. But we have no doubt that she will give it her all." 

"Everyone here has reacted with the same sadness you would have as anybody in your immediate family. We're very much a strong and close knit family here," Ayers said. "I've been saying this over and over...If it were my daughter I would hope that someone would do the same for her."