Folks raise money for friend of Summit and Park counties

FAIRPLAY - Friends are rallying around Neva Bellon, a longtime resident of Park County and a Summit County businesswoman.

A silent auction and fundraiser will be held in Fairplay on Saturday, Feb. 5, at the Fairplay Hotel.

On Dec. 12, 2004, Neva and her husband, Dave, were preparing to leave their Breckenridge business, Mid-Continental Services, to celebrate her birthday, when Neva took a fall that left her badly injured. While she is now out of intensive care, Denver doctors estimate Neva still faces several months of hospitalization and a long recovery.

The couple has lived for more than 20 years, in Fairplay.

When Fairplay citizens learned of the Bellons' tragedy, they organized a fundraiser dinner on Jan. 15. It was held in the American Legion Hut that the couple managed on a volunteer basis for as long as some residents could remember. The townspeople collected more than $7,000 for the Bellons, but they still weren't finished helping.

Fairplay Mayor Rachael Edwards is spearheading a silent auction and dance to be held at the Fairplay Hotel.

"We'll hold the silent auction from Feb. 1-5 in the banquet room, so their friends from all over Park County and Summit will have plenty of time to come over and bid," Edwards said.

The banquet room with the auction items will be locked, but bidders need only to ask a hotel employee to be admitted to view and bid on the donated items that range from antiques to ski passes.

Edwards said the dance on Feb. 5 will feature the band Revolver, and proceeds from the $5 per-person cover charge and all tips will go to the fund to help the Bellons.

Those wishing to donate directly should contact the Bank of the West in Breckenridge, where an account has been set up under David W. Bellon and Neva B. Bellon.

For more information, call Edwards at the Fairplay Hotel at (719) 836-2583.