They were expecting to serve 300 at the Pink Ribbon Charity Spaghetti Dinner for Erin Alston Thursday night. They served 550.

The outpouring of love and support for the Jefferson High School graduate was amazing.

"I'm overwhelmed,'' said Mrs. Alston, choking back tears. "Most people don't get something like this unless they die, and then they don't get to see it.''

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in September, and the dinner was organized as a fundraiser to help pay her mounting medical bills.

The former Erin Wiley is a 1994 Jefferson graduate and was a member of the basketball team. Her former coach, Jim Lemerand, learned of her illness and set the wheels in motion for Thursday's dinner.

"I've kept in touch with Erin,'' said Mr. Lemerand, who retired from the Monroe County Sheriff's Office and now lives in northern Michigan. "She was getting depressed, and I told her I would come down and see what I could do to help with her medical bills.''

The fundraiser was organized, and the turnout was surprising. Doors were scheduled to open at 5 p.m., but there was such a long line at 4:30 that they began serving dinner. For more than two hours, a line stretched from the serving tables to the doors of the Jefferson cafeteria.

More than 35 volunteers cooked, served food or helped clean up. Music was provided by the Jefferson jazz band.

Each member of the Jefferson boys basketball team helped serve food.

Jefferson is coached by Corey Wiley, Erin's first cousin. When he heard about the dinner, Mr. Wiley talked to Jefferson athletic director Randy Tevepaugh to see how the players could help.

"Things are tough for the family, but that's when you step up and do what needs to be done,'' Mr. Wiley said. "Some things are bigger than basketball. This is our way to show we care about each other.''

Mrs. Alston appreciates the support of her family. It has been an even more difficult journey for her because Lori Alston, her sister-in-law, died of cancer two years ago.

"She was about the same age I am now,'' Erin said. "It's been hard, but we have great family support. (My husband) Jason gives me tough love, but he's a teddy bear underneath. He saw what his brother had to go through when Lori died.''

The Alstons have two daughters, 11-year-old Gabrielle and 5-year-old Isabelle.

Many of the people who attended the benefit stayed for Jefferson's girls basketball game with New Boston Huron. The players on each team wore pink knee socks. The coaches, Mickey Moody of Jefferson and Brent Rodak of Huron, wore pink shirts, and the referees had pink wristbands. Some of the players sported wristbands with a pink cancer insignia and the word "hope.''

Many of Jefferson's former girls basketball players and most of Alston's ex-teammates attended the game and were introduced at halftime.

Anyone who would like to make a contribution can send it to the Erin Wiley Fund at Monroe Bank & Trust.

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