Mountlake Terrace student raises funds for leukemia in memory of a friend

Published 10:48 pm Wednesday, April 2, 2008

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — When Chauncey Jones died of acute myelogenous leukemia in 2001, he was remembered as many things: a star baseball player and athlete, a fun-loving prankster and someone who went out of his way to help others.

Mountlake Terrace High School senior Sean Forde is carrying on Jones’ passion for helping others as part of his senior project in remembrance of a friend he considered family.

“He would have loved this,” Forde said. “He was always doing something for others. He would have wanted to be part of this.”

Forde, 18, is part of Chauncey’s Team, a group of family members and friends who have raised more than $35,000 for research in the fight against leukemia.

Forde’s senior project will be an auction held in Chauncey’s honor with the proceeds going to the Seattle Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The auction, scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday at the Edmonds City Hall, has received a variety of charitable donations of goods and services to be auctioned off.

“Everyone I’ve spoken to about donating has been great, and they have given what they can and in some cases a lot more,” Forde said. “Even those who can’t actually give anything to the auction have helped in one way or another.”

Chauncey’s mother, Grace Carlsen-Jones, is not only a member of Chauncey’s Team but also Forde’s mentor for his senior project. She has seen the donations come in. She’s been impressed by Forde’s ability to raise money and the community’s capacity to give.

“I’ve been amazed, we have all been very much overwhelmed by the tremendous community support for Chauncey’s Team,” Carlsen-Jones said. “We’re continually impressed by how people have stuck with the team.”

This Saturday’s auction includes a large array of items, including a hot air balloon ride for two with dinner, a private sailing charter in and around Elliot Bay aboard a 56-foot performance sailing boat, a weeklong stay at Lake Coeur d’Alene in Idaho, tickets to Disneyland, and a river rafting trip with BlueSky Outfitters.

There even are plans for private firearms instruction by the Seattle Police Department, using their training simulator.

Forde’s skills as a fundraiser have astonished his friends, family and fellow team members.

“This year is going to be much better than last year,” Forde said.

Forde’s older sister, Jill Salsbury, is also part of Chauncey’s Team. She’s a soccer coach at Mountlake Terrace High School.

“Chauncey was a huge part of our lives; his family is our family,” Salsbury said. “He was the kind of guy who found the fun in everything. He would like what we are doing here.”

Reporter Justin Arnold: 425-339-3432 or jarnold@heraldnet.com.

Benefit auction Saturday

Cost: $25 for a single ticket, $45 for two at the door

When: 7 p.m. Saturday Where: The Brackett Room at Edmonds City Hall, 121 5th Ave. N., Edmonds