Lending a helping hand

By Angelita Caudillo
The Collegian

Entering her sophomore year at Clovis High School, the last thing 15-year-old Kelsey Springsted expected was to be diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma.

Ewing Sarcoma is a type of bone cancer, which Kelsey has in her tail bone. Kelsey’s parents, Ken and Kelly Springsted, said they found out about Kelsey’s condition in the second week of September. Now students from all different schools, including Fresno State, are helping out the family by remodeling the house and yard so Kelsey can live comfortably in a mold-free home.

Kelsey, who has an identical twin sister, must live in a mold free environment in order to stay healthy and construction of the house has to be completed for at least two weeks before she can return.

Kelsey is living in an RV the Paul Everett compny has loaned to the family while construction is taking place.
The Springsted family has lived in the home for 15 years and had to move out everything including the old carpet. The Clovis High Band and members of Clark Elementary have also come to help out the family.

The Fresno State Marching Band members contributed their time to help clean the yard for the Springsted family. The band made its first trip to the home on Oct. 23 and a second one on Nov. 6.

During these trips the band spent many hours trying to rid the Springsted yard of mold and garbage so Kelsey could live more comfortably.

In a group of 25 to 30, including band director Gary Gilroy, Fresno State Marching Band cleaned up the backyard. Students spent the afternoon raking up the yard, digging out weeds, dumping out garbage in two trucks, pulling out stumps and branches and making the yard cleaner.

“We need to rid the yard of mold,” said junior English credential major Jessica Jamero. Jamero said she was at the home to help out in her local community and she even brought her parents along to help.

“We came out to get everything cleaned up so the family doesn’t have to spend so much money. They have better things to worry about,” freshman music major Jennifer Gonzales said.

The band was very efficient, staying from 1:30 to 6 p.m. on Oct. 23.

“It felt like the right thing to do, just knowing that your helping to make the situation better,” freshman music education major David Green said.

Growing up, Kelsey has been an active band member. While attending Clovis High she has been a part of the marching band playing mallets and the keyboard, All Access Pass, Chamber Choir and is second- chair oboe.

“I think the outpouring support for Kelsey is large, and we appreciate it,” Ken said. “It is mostly from people that have known her and seen how hard she works for her straight ‘A’s.” Ken said.

Ken said Kelsey has been doing well in keeping up with her advanced courses and she loves school; she even won the Academic All-Star in seventh grade in The Fresno Bee.

“The one thing that is most important to Kelsey is school and she hates missing school.” Ken said.
Her parents laughed saying “What kid would say they have to go to school?”

Both parents agreed Kelsey has had a positive attitude and still makes a lot of jokes.

With many corporations and families donating their time to help remodel the Springsted home, the family still has some work ahead of them.

“I’m just so happy all these kids are here,” Kelly said. Companies like Aust Tile, All Britton, Lenox Air Conditioning and Cedar Wood Elementary have contributed time or money to the family.

Several people got together and created the Kelsey Springsted Cancer Recovery Fund.

The Springsteds said they’re trying to raise money for several things, one being a customized wheelchair she will probably need and also a laptop capable of writing music. Kelsey has been writing her own music for almost a year and her parents said they would like a laptop she can not only do her homework on, but that she can write music on while at the hospital.

“We really appreciate everyone coming out and doing this,” Ken said. “In 15 minutes [the Fresno State Marching Band] has done more than I have in a year,” Ken said.

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