Auction nets $5,500 so far for custodian

Memorabilia from the likes of Magic Johnson, Wayne Gretzky and the "Desperate Housewives" cast have so far netted $5,500 in an online auction to help an Olympus Junior High School custodian with medical and home expenses — even a cochlear implant.

Project Terry's eBay auction closed Friday for most goods. But 10 items, including a football helmet signed by former Brigham Young University coach LaVell Edwards and a "Napoleon Dynamite" talking doll, remain up for bid until 11 a.m. today.

The fund-raising efforts, headed by Olympus students, will benefit hearing-impaired custodian Terry Birch. Students hope to help him get cochlear implants and help him reach his dream of a communications career, defray his wife's breast cancer treatment costs and repair their West Valley home.

Students held a benefit concert last winter, then wrote to their favorite stars to donate items for auction. In all, 114 items went up for auction, and more were trickling in Friday, student government adviser and math teacher Andy McIntyre said.

The school also has raised $1,260 in cash through its "help-terry.org" Web site.

"We didn't expect this much," McIntyre said. "It's amazing what a few letters will do."

Adding the latest donations with a $20,000 base, the students have collected nearly $27,000. A handful of contractors also have inquired about helping Birch with home repairs, McIntyre said. A doctor has volunteered his services for a cochlear implant.

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E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com