Friends, family members, fellow church-goers and more gathered at Covenant Presbyterian Church on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 at “An Evening for Lindsey,” a fundraiser for Lindsey Nanz.

Lindsey and her mom, Sharon, returned to Roanoke last week after spending several months in Pittsburgh, following Lindsey’s liver transplant surgery at the end of October.

The event featured food, drinks, several musical acts for entertainment and an extensive silent auction. The top-selling auction item was an autographed baseball and baseball card, both signed by Chipper Jones. The pair fetched $350.

Local steel drummers The Bahama Mamas performed on their pink drum sets–with matching pink shirts–in the main worship hall. During a break for the Mamas, one of Lindsey’s older brothers, Eric, performed an acoustic song he wrote for Lindsey called “Appalachian Nightfall.”

“Being in the mountains reminds me of home,” Eric told the crowd. “I wanted to play this song for Lindsey now that she’s back home.”

Eric wasn’t the only member of the family to perform that night: Lindsey’s dad, Roy, also performed with his band, 360, as volunteers took final bids at the different silent auction tables. (Unfortunately, Lindsey’s other two brothers, Jason and Torren, were unable to attend because of work and school commitments.)

Another feature of the fundraising event involved balloons for purchase: folks bought balloons for $5 each and then immediately popped the balloon to reveal a small orange slip of paper with a specific number written on it. Balloon-poppers then checked in at the balloon booth to claim the prize corresponding to their number.

Attendance numbers topped out near 400, according to Sharon Nanz, and as of Tuesday morning, Jan. 31, Vickie Larrington, one of the event coordinators, tallied that the event has brought in around $15,600 for Lindsey and her family so far.

The fundraising doesn’t stop here, though. This Saturday, Feb. 4, the Hidden Valley High School Band Boosters will host a silent auction, and a fundraising basket for Lindsey and her family will be available for donations.

“An Evening for Lindsey” coordinator Sharon Dickenson wants to thank “all of those who helped in so many ways, baking, volunteering, donating, buying items and just being there for Lindsey and her family.  We are so overwhelmed by the generosity and the support of the church and community.”

Continue to check back at www.swo-co.com for further updates on Lindsey and the Nanz family.