Tim Dahnert fundraiser

Vada Dahnert held a benefit sale for her son, Tim Dahnert, 55, at Faith United Methodist Church in Waseca Saturday, March 11. The community room in the church was filled with items for sale – items that had been donated by community members and businesses, as well as found free or cheap on the Facebook Marketplace. This was Vada's fourteenth such sale, all held for people diagnosed with cancer.

Tim Dahnert was diagnosed with an oral cancer, then subsequently underwent a nine-and-a-half hour surgery to remove the infected tissue and reconstruct his face with multiple bone and skin grafts. The surgery means that, because a major nerve had to be cut,  he will never regain feeling on the left side of his face. He also must wait 6-12 months before his teeth can be replaced. The good news, though, is that the cancer is completely gone: There will be no need for radiation or chemo treatments. Tim says he's deeply grateful to his wife, Darla, who was there by his side throughout the entire ordeal. Both also give their thanks to the Hope Lodge, a housing service provided by the American Cancer Society which gave them free lodging and meals near the hospital while Tim underwent and recovered from his surgery.

At the sale, nothing on display was marked with a price. Instead, Vada used her standard “pay what you want” model, which has had great success. Previous sales have raised as much as $4,000 using this system. For large items such as furniture, Vada says people typically make an offer and she decides whether to accept it. Vada also reached out to many local business owners who donated items and gift certificates. Food was served – Owatonna HyVee donated bread rolls and donuts, while Kwik Trip provided Vada with a gift card to purchase the meat. Turnout for the sale was excellent, according to Vada. “We've been very fortunate,” she said on the matter.

Vada Dahnert is retiring from putting on such sales. She'd intended to retire after her last sale, but said when her son received his diagnosis she decided she needed to do a final sale for him. A lot of people have helped Vada put on the fourteen benefit sales she's done, including her children and grandchildren, friends, and past beneficiaries of the sales. “I couldn't do it without help,” she said emphatically. Vada isn't aware of anyone planning to take up the mantle of putting on these benefit sales now that she is finished, but said if someone reached out to her and said they wanted to she would help them get it started.