Fundraiser helps employee with medical bills

Friday, Oct. 17, 2008 | midnight

When banquet servers and other employees at Mandalay Bay heard their co-worker could use some help with mounting medical bills and related expenses, they decided they couldn't just sit by and do nothing.

On Sept. 12, Silverado-area restaurant RE Tapas Lounge hosted Family Affair, A Benefit for Billy Dickerson.

Dickerson is suffering from multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells, said his co-worker Cat Campanella.

Attempts to reach the Dickerson family were unsuccessful.

The disease is considered incurable but stem cell transplants have shown promise in clinical trials.

Campanella, one of the organizers of the fundraising event, said for the stem cell treatment and related travel and lodging expenses, the Dickerson family was facing some large bills.

"We thought, 'oh dear God, what can we do to help him,'" the Green Valley resident said.

Campanella said she sought help from Mandalay Bay's corporate team and soon had items to auction and give away in a raffle at the event that included Mandalay Bay's vice president of sales and marketing's parking spot, Waterford Crystal, a 12-string guitar, show tickets and complimentary dinners.

Errol Le Blanc, owner and chef of RE Tapas, said during the event 15 percent of each Mandalay Bay employee's bill went toward the fundraiser.

A little more than $6,000 was raised, Campanella said.

"Billy is a fun-loving guy. He's very outgoing. He's very cooperative. He just jumps right in when something needs to be done," Campanella said.

"When everyone thought of him, they thought, 'oh not Billy,'" she said.

Ashley Livingston can be reached at 990-8925 or ashley.livingston@hbcpub.com.