Thompson Falls benefit raises more than $40,000 for Ty Damaskos

On Oct. 19 the Thompson Falls community joined together in the Thompson Falls high school gymnasium to raise funds for one for one of a local Thompson Falls cancer survivor.

Since Ty Damaskos was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer that affects the production of cells in the bones, the Thompson Falls community has wanted to help and formed Team Ty. The teams purpose is to raise funds for many medical costs Damaskos will have to battle as he goes through treatments.

Meeting together, the team organized a charity auction and raised more than $40,000 for their cause. Team Ty event coordinator Sue Lovhaug said she was happy with the success of the event because how much Damaskos meant to her and the rest of the community.

“Barbie and Ty have been like family for me for the last eight years and they're just great members in the community,” Lovhaug said.

She also said that he had been an example to her through all the years as he's helped the football team and contributed in the community.

“We're all just close friends and wanted to help out,” she said. “He's never given up. He just always has a positive attitude and he's still always there to help when he can.”

Thompson Falls Football Coach Doug Padden, another member of Team Ty said that he was also pleased with the fundraiser but more than that he was just glad to do something for such a great friend and especially one who has contributed so much to their team.

“Ty has driven bus for the team, Ty has taken stats for the team, forever it seems like, and he's just become a part of our team. I got kids walking across the field who have played in 2001 and Ty was taking stats for them that year as well,” Padden said.

Padden explained that fundraiser and auction that was really just a small part of larger picture and that Damaskos is one of many people in the community who community members wouldn't think twice about helping out.

“It's this whole community here, we cut each other's firewood for each other, we take each other hunting, we pack each others elk out, we watch each others kids, this community is just awesome,” Padden said.

If there is any doubt about how dedicated the community is to helping Damaskos the TY stickers placed on the Bluehawks helmets give a reaffirming visual testimony about where the community stands. Padden said that it was the players idea to put the sticker on the helmets and that he wasn't about to stop it. “[The stickers] are just little things you can honor somebody with and keep them in your prayers all season,” he said.

“When you can raise 40,000 dollars in one night in a community to help someone out that's phenomenal, that's more than just a few friends helping out that's whole community,” Padden said.