Fundraiser for 6 year-old Leerah Gilbert battling leukemia to be Feb. 14

Leerah Gilbert

Members of our community are coming together this Valentine’s Day in support of 6 year-old Leerah Gilbert, who is currently battling Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. Dineshia Wheeler and other family-friends of the Gilbert family are putting on a fundraiser called “Giving Love to Leerah” at the American Legion Salem Post 41 on February 14 at 11:00 am. The address is 105 W Hugh Veteran Dr, Salem.

The fundraiser will feature a pay-what-you-can lunch meal from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. The fundraiser will also have several opportunities to go home with some unique items. There will be a baked goods auction, a silent auction, and raffle drawings. All proceeds go toward securing materials in order to renovate the family’s farmhouse in Campbellsburg to make it suitable for Leerah to live in.

The silent auctions and raffles have plenty to offer for everyone. Some examples include:

• Wreaths

• Free tattoo sessions

• Generators

• Local business gifts and gift cards (Born, Lincks Clothing & Shoes, Adrienne Brook Salon and Spa, and more.)

• A bouquet from Peach’s Petals

• A motorized toy jeep from John Jones

• Pigs (yes, actual pigs)

• And much more!

“The whole second half of 2025 was just one medical trip after another for the Gilbert family in general,” said Dineshia Wheeler. “It actually started with their son in July. He got diagnosed with Lyme meningitis. So they were back and forth at the hospital with him until mid to late September. And if I'm not mistaken, he still has some doctor visits following up with that. In October, Leerah actually broke her leg. They noticed that she was bruising a little bit easier as well. Two weeks after Leerah broke her leg, she was having severe pain. So they took her back to the hospital, and that's when she was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She is only in phase three out of ten to be in complete remission. They're aiming for the 1st of January of 2028 for her to be in full remission. However, they've had to postpone phase three because her platelets were okay, but her Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) had dropped dramatically. And that put her in severe neutropenia. So right now, what might be a light cough to one person is going to be full blown pneumonia to her.

“Their mortgage in the home they are currently living in is outrageous,” continued Wheeler. “And the farmhouse that they are trying to make livable for Leerah needs a lot of work. I've been out there. I've looked things over. I'm trying to coordinate a list of people to be hands on and get some labor going. And then finding some contractors -- people who have a special profession in like, electrical, plumbing, and whatnot to see if there's anything they can do to help with those bigger issues. I did find a gentleman, Ben Bennington, that has volunteered to fix the roof. So, his guys are going to put in all the labor to fix the roof. Paul Cornett, he has some guys, and they're going to fix the soffit and the gutters and downspouts for them. It's all great. People are coming together, but our issue is with the HVAC and materials. HVAC right now is their biggest expense that we are racking our brains to try and figure out, and just materials in general for everything else. The roofers, they'll do the labor for free, but coming up with materials is the issue. So materials right now are a big thing, but also the amount of traveling that they're having to do for Leerah, and just their normal monthly bills on top of their medical bills – which insurance is not being helpful with. It's just really starting to weigh down on Corrina and Waylin, Leerah's parents. They're doing everything they can, but it's hard to work and be there for Leerah. So, it's just a difficult situation.”

Below is a current list of needed materials provided by Dineshia Wheeler in a Facebook post:

“HVAC - $7,000 can be sent via Venmo to Corrina Gilbert, or with her permission, you can send donations to myself via Cash App or Apple Pay with my cell number (812-620-0946).

ROOF - $6,180 labor provided by Ben Bennington with IAS Construction can also be sent via Venmo, Cash App or Apple Pay, or you can call Jesse at Metal Systems, 812-883-5737 and make direct donations to Ben Bennington’s account for the Gilbert House!

Shout out to Paul Cornett with Cornett’s Home Improvements and Cooley’s Heating & Air who are taking care of the gutter system and soffit and all the plumbing! So, nothing is needed there!

Here are the rest of the materials:

• 8ft 200amp main electrical wire

• Stove plug in outlet

• 4 outside lights

• Estimated 100ft 10-2 electric wire

• 25 three-prong outlets. Donated by DW & Taylor S

• 13 light switches. Donated by DW & Taylor S

• 10 electric w/ battery back up fire detectors

• 3 ceiling fans - 1 Donated by DW

• Bathroom Light for over double vanity - Donated by Derek C

• Kitchen Light - Donated by Derek C

• 23 Single outlet covers - Donated by DW & Taylor S

• 1 Double outlet cover - Donated by Taylor S

• 11 Single switch covers - Donated by DW & Taylor S

• 1 Double switch cover - Donated by Taylor S

• 130 1/2” X 4 X 8 Sheets of Drywall

• 2 buckets of 1” or 1 1/4” drywall screws - Donated by 1 bucket Taylor S

• 15 buckets of drywall mud - Donated by 4 bucket Taylor S,  1 buckets Derek C

• 8 500ft rolls of drywall tape - Donated by 2 rolls DW 2 rolls Taylor S

• 10 Gallons Kilz primer - Donated by Jerald Dwaine Mangas

• 40 Gallons Eggshell Pale Oak Benjamin Moore paint (Ace Hardware)

• Paint rollers

• Plastic for floors for paint

• 1,700 sqft estimated vinyl flooring 5.5mm or 6mm

• 30 4x8 sheets of glue-on

• 20 1x4 trim boards

• 12’4” of base cabinets (need one kitchen sink cabinet) 

• Single Deep Well kitchen sink with faucet

Windows as close to these measurements as possible:

• 2 30 X 42

• 1 27 X 40

• 1 29 X 39 - Donated by DW

• 1-3 95 X 56 (currently 3 piece window)

• 4 30 x 40

• 3 29.5 x 79

• 1 28 x 61

• 1 32x36 up to 32x40

• 1 26 x 48

• Window sealant

• 20 cans spray foam - Donated by Christie A

Doors:

• 1 28x32 without frame bi-fold doors

• 2 32x81 Door with frame - Donated by via God’s Money 

• 1 32x80 with frame Exterior Door

• 2 interior door knobs - Donated by Christie A

• 1 Exterior Door Knob, Deadbolt with keys - Donated by Christie A”

If you would like to provide any of these materials, please contact Dineshia Wheeler at (812) 620-0946.

Monetary donations can be sent directly to Leerah’s mother, Corrina Gilbert via Venmo. Her Venmo username is “@Corrina-Gilbert”.

“If you wish to make cash or check donations, please make checks out to Corrina Gilbert or Waylin Gilbert, and I can meet you and take it to them,” said Dineshia Wheeler.

Our community is known for helping others in their times of need. So, if you feel compelled to help this struggling family in any way, please do not hesitate to do so. Whether that takes the form of monetary donations or donations of physical labor and materials, any help is welcome with open arms. Additionally, be sure to stop by the American Legion post here in Salem on February 14 at 11:00 am to join in on this fundraiser for a wonderful and important cause.

For any additional information, contact Dineshia Wheeler at (812) 620-0946.