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Last updated on Friday, October 11, 2013
(LINTON) - The third annual scholarship benefit in memory of Mirisa Jones is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Roy Clark Community Building in Linton.
Jones, who was expecting her second child, unexpectedly lost her life, after becoming ill with HELLP syndrome.
"She was 27 weeks along when she developed HELLP syndrome. We lost her and the baby," explained Kathy Lawrence.
HELLP is a life-threatening pregnancy complication usually considered to be a variant of preeclampsia.
Lawrence, Jones's mother, co-organizes the scholarship memorial benefit along with her daughter, Miriah Wildin.
"It's something huge for Miriah and I to carry on. When she [Jones] passed away, the outpouring of support we got was just huge. It's huge for us to try to make a difference," she added.
The memorial benefit both raises money for a scholarship and celebrates Jones's life.
"We give out a scholarship to a Linton graduate. It goes to a senior going into any medical field," Lawrence explained, noting Jones worked in the medical field as a CNA, EMT, and then later became an LPN.
A silent auction is used to raise the money for the scholarship.
"A lot of the silent auction items are donated by the community," Lawrence said, adding her dining room is now overflowing with the outpouring of donations.
"We have pizza coupons, tools, home décor, hair products, haircuts, a furnace cleaning, T-shirts, hats, coffee mugs, gas cards, grocery cards, candles. A bunch of different things," she said.
Blood donations will also be going on throughout the event.
"We are sitting at 105 spots for blood donations and we have 20 spots left," Lawrence said. "We can take walk-ins. People who don't sign up, can come in."
One blood donation can save the lives of three people, she added, noting it generally takes 30 to 45 minutes to donate.
"I have been told that this is one of the biggest blood drives Greene County has seen," she explained. "People who knew Mirisa have signed up to give in her memory."
A balloon release, in honor of Jones's birthday, is also set for 12:30 p.m.
"She would have been 28 years old Oct. 15," Lawrence said.
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