When Suzi Baxter was gathering community support for a fundraiser she put together in September, she never expected another fundraiser to develop from it. Baxter is the founder of Siblings in Cancer, a fund set up in support of the Bresnyan family in Rocklin, with two children, each battling two different types of caner.

Passing out fliers to local businesses, one reached Harbor Freight Tools in Rocklin, where Baxter was simply hoping for their support, but she got so much more. Craig Seher, assistant store manager for Harbor Freight Tools got word of the event and instead of simply donating, he decided to organize another event to raise money for the family. The Bresnyan’s situation had an impact on Seher.

“It kind of hit home for me,” he said.

Weeks prior, Seher lost a cousin to cancer – someone he was very close to.

“Something told me, ‘Craig, you’ve got to do something to help them out,’” he said.

Since then, Seher has been organizing a fundraiser for a family he hadn’t even met. Twenty-year-old Melana Bresnyan, a Rocklin High School graduate, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in February 2008, and Nick Besynan, 26, was diagnosed in August 2007, for the second time, with brain cancer. Both have recently finished a dose of treatments; Nick Bresnyan returned to work part time as a custodian for the Rocklin Unified School District.

In the midst of treatments, Dave Bresnyan, Melana and Nick’s father, lost his job, but has been able to work some jobs with his contractor’s license.

So far Siblings in Cancer has raised more than $23,000 through other fundraisers – Chick-fil-A donated gift certificates to sell, Chevy’s donated a portion of a night’s proceeds, cans are set up at businesses throughout the community and the Sept. 13 fundraiser raised approximately $9,000 with silent auction items, food and entertainment.

Baxter’s goal is to reach $30,000 that will assist the family paying medical bills, and Baxter is confident the upcoming fundraiser will reach and surpass their monetary goal.

On Sunday, Oct. 12, in the shared parking lot of Harbor Freight Tools, Scandinavian Designs and American Furniture Galleries in Rocklin, there will be a custom car show, food and refreshments, live music, silent auction items, raffle prizes and more, all raising money for the Bresnyan family.

“I had no idea it was going to be this big,” Seher said.

He said everything fell into place and other stores became involved because it hit home for a lot of people.

“It’s amazing,” Seher said.

Baxter, who met the Bresnyan family through her church, began Siblings in Cancer earlier this year.

“It’s bad enough to have one, but two kids (with cancer). We have to do something,” she said.

Through the events and going door to door to local businesses, Baxter noticed the outpouring of kindness.

“The businesses downtown were so generous. It was incredible, the community support,” Baxter said.

Jan Bresnyan has been continuously surprised with the help.

“I never expected for people to be so involved,” she said. “It’s definitely been a real blessing and encouraging.”

Through all of this, Nick Bresnyan wanted to do something to bless other people, Baxter said.

“This kid, he’s amazing,” Baxter said.

While in the hospital, undergoing treatment, he began making jewelry and passed it out to doctors, nurses, other patients, friends and family, “just to tell them that God loves them and cares,” Baxter said.

For more information, or to donate to Siblings in Cancer, go to www.siblingsincancer.org.

What: Siblings in Cancer fundraiser

When: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12

Where: 6860 Five Star Blvd. in Rocklin (parking lot)

Info: www.siblingsincancer.org