$26k raised for Hazel

A fundraiser was held Saturday evening at the Elks Lodge in Greybull to support local family Hayden and Davonne Goton, graduates of Greybull High School, and their two-year-old daughter Hazel. With the choice between nachos or a delicious meal of Thai beef curry, an estimated 200 guests enjoyed the food along with a silent auction, and of course mingling with neighbors and friends. 

Generous donations of art, western wear, a mini basketball hoop, liquor, home goods, meat bundles, guns and multiple other items were snatched up by attendees in the silent auction. 

Over $26,000 was raised in support of Hazel, who was born with health complications. She is the granddaughter of Shell locals Lesa Young and Mike Goton and David Humphreys of Worland. 

“Living in a small community, you always hope people will show up for you in hard times,” said Davonne. “But what we’ve seen leading up to the event – and what we saw at the event – has gone beyond anything we could have imagined.”  

The evening was a successful collaboration in that it was organized by residents of both Greybull and Shell, coming together to support young Hazel. 

Greybull’s Kathy Jensen, Patsy King and Judy Sorensen spearheaded the auction, while Shell’s Hannah Stinson, Madeline Cole and Benjaporn Helburn headlined the event and cooked the food. Both groups had the help of countless other volunteers. 

“The generosity of this little town, I don’t know how we keeping pulling this off after one tragedy after another,” said Kathy Jensen with tears in her eyes. 

Hannah Stinson added, “It’s an honor to help out a friend and witnessing the generosity of others makes me hopeful. This community shows up when it needs to and it makes me proud to be part of it.” 

An estimated 180 people attended the event. 

“As parents, there’s nothing harder than watching your child face medical challenges that you can’t fix on your own. Hazel’s condition is so rare they don’t even have a name for it and there are a lot of unknowns,” said Davonne. “Recently they closed a large shunt vein only for it to reveal an even more complicated cluster of shunt veins that will need further surgery. It’s overwhelming. It’s scary. And at times feels incredibly heavy. But because of this community, we don’t feel like we’re carrying it alone.” 

A highlight of the evening came as the event was wrapping up. A traveler walked in and donated $10,000 on the spot. The traveler, having grown up in Greybull decades ago, didn’t know the family but wanted to support Hazel.

“You are giving us hope. You are giving us strength. You are reminding us that we are surrounded by people who care deeply, who show up, and who lift each other up when it matters most. It’s nice knowing we can now pay medical bills,” added Davonne. “And use the money towards future treatments and travel expenses.” 

The family travels to Denver for another round of tests and appointments in the coming months with a future surgery on the horizon. 

“We don’t know exactly what the road ahead looks like but because of those who donated, we know we won’t be walking alone,” she added. “From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for loving our daughter, for supporting our family, and for standing with us during this time. It means everything.”

For those still wanting to support the family, a benefit account has been set up at Big Horn Federal under Hazel’s name.