Community comes through

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Call it an outpouring of generosity. Call it an example of “paying it forward” on a grand scale. Call it, as some have, a miracle.
However you describe it, Saturday’s yard sale to raise funds for Cheryl Wyrick and her family was an astounding success. The event raised more than $20,000, which will allow the terminally ill mother to fulfill one last wish for her family. She, her husband, two young children and sister-in-law are taking a vacation to Disney World. Wyrick is in the final stages of a rare form of cancer. Her story and details about the fundraiser appeared in last Friday’s Post.
“We’ve never had a family vacation before,” she said. “It would be nice to have that before I left.”
The response was immediate — and overwhelming. One resident even donated first-class plane tickets, while another secured funds to pay for resort reservations and park passes. Any excess funds will go toward unpaid medical bills. Stunned by the response, Wyrick said she didn’t know “why people are doing this for me.”
The day’s headlines often tell of heartbreak, tragedy and loss. But they also can provide glimpses of humanity at its best.