Olympus Junior High janitor Terry Birch is deaf and needs cochlear implants. Last summer, his wife, who is also deaf, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy. After that, she will begin radiation therapy. The Birch's have four children. According to the Mrs. Leffler's Utah Studies students, the Birch family cannot afford the expensive surgery for cochlear implants and the medical bills keep mounting with Mrs. Birch's breast cancer treatments. The students decided they wanted to help and organized a letter writing campaign to over 1,000 celebrities asking each one to sign memorabilia that the students could auction off on eBay to raise money for the Birch family.
Emily Tyndell, who played Trisha, in the hit movie Napoleon Dynamite, actually stopped by the school to visit the students. Other celebrities who have agreed to help the students help the Birch family are: Alicia Keys, John Mayer, Denzel Washington, Matthew McConaughey, Elijah Wood, John Travolta, Ryan Cabrera and the Bravery. Also being auctioned at eBay are tickets to the upcoming movie premiere of Jack Black's Nacho Libre and autographed items from sports legends Magic Johnson, Wayne Gretzky, Steve Young and Pittsburgh Steelers players. This is an amazing life-changing experience for both the Birch family and the exceptional students of Olympus Junior High. The eBay auction will run from May 15 - 25. To learn more about Birch family, the students and the auction, visit the Help Terry blog.
