A group of Valley artists is rallying around an old friend this Saturday, May 7, at the Maple Bay Rowing Club.

A silent auction, art sale and concert has been put together to help raise funds for Linda Willoughby, a former fixture in the Maple Bay social scene who is battling advanced Multiple Sclerosis.

A popular waitress at the Maple Bay Inn in the '70s, Willoughby made a lot of friends during her time in the Valley -- musicians like Monte Nordstrom, Jeremy Sagar and Barry Dayman to name but a few.

But as it tends to do, time wore on and Willoughby moved away.

The friends never lost touch.

That's why they've come to learn Willoughby's battle with Multiple Sclerosis has left her paralyzed, unable to move anything below her neck, and in a constant state of pain and fatigue.

The race is on, said Nordstrom, to raise money to help Willoughby get to California and receive "Liberation" treatment.

The angioplasty procedure's inventor, Dr. Paolo Zamboni, believes MS is not neurological in nature but instead a vascular issue.

His treatment works to correct chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI), or the blood drainage problem he thinks is the cause for MS.

The controversial treatment is not yet available in Canada so would-be recipients must leave the country for treatment -- often a costly endeavour.

Friends of Willoughby aim to minimize that burden.

"She's basically been a prisoner in her apartment in Vancouver for 20 years," Nordstrom said. "She's getting to the point now where she hardly has the breath and voice to operate her voice-controlled computer and to operate her wheelchair."

Nordstrom said Willoughby is hoping for a reversal, or at least a stop to the progression of her MS.

Admittance to their fundraising event, which runs from 7-11 p.m., is by donation.

"It's totally just a giving thing that people are doing for her," Nordstrom said.

The silent auction and art sale will feature new and vintage paintings, prints, objects d'art, carvings, CDs and more. Monte Nordstrom & the Beaumonts will provide the music, with guest Barry Dayman. All proceeds will go to www.lindasliberation.com

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