Chad Lundquist/ Nevada Appeal Massage Therapist Deborah Hahue, standing, and Carson High School senior Erin Holderman prepare for a fundraiser to benefit the Second Chance Fund. The fund was developed to aid two local children who were allegedly abused by their grandmother, mother and stepfather.
Like many others in Carson City, when Erin Holderman heard that two youngsters had allegedly been locked in a bathroom by their grandmother, mother and stepfather, she wanted to do something.
As a result, her Carson High School senior project began to change.
"I thought about it for a week, I thought I should donate something," the 18-year-old said. "The more I thought about it, the more I realized that no matter how much I can give, it's not going to be enough because these kids are going to need monetary help for the rest of their lives."
She decided to turn her project, which was research and practical experience in massage, into a fundraiser for the 16-year-old girl and 11-year-old boy.
The past few weeks have been hectic as she located volunteers to donate their time for a massage benefit at the Carson Mall from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. She spoke with Michael Hohl about matching $500 for the cause and began looking for prizes for a raffle contest.
"The community has been really open to help, which I'm really appreciating at this point," said Holderman, who works after school at the Crowell, Susich, Tackes, Griffin Ltd. law firm and hopes to become an attorney some day.
Several masseuses are donating their time for the event, including Ellen Eng, Deborah Kahue, Terry Welty, Karla Kennedy and Linda Martin.
And at $1 a minute, all the money will be donated the Second Chance Fund to benefit the two children. Holderman will also be selling raffle tickets at $1 a piece, or six for $5. The names will be drawn throughout the massage event on Saturday, but she will keep on selling tickets near through to the end. Winners do not need to be present. She has put together many of the gift baskets herself.
"We have a dorm-room kind of gift basket with lots of picture frames and candles," she said. "We have an office gift basket, and an outdoor basket with wind chimes and a planter."
Other prizes include dinner for two at the Piñon Plaza Casino Resort steakhouse, dinner for two at the Station Grille and a full set of nails at Attitudes Salon.
"I personally wanted to raise $1,000, but everyone's been telling me that's a really low expectation at this point," she said.
Raffle tickets went on sale Monday.
Holderman, who works about 20 hours a week at the law firm, hopes to study political science at the University of Nevada, Reno next year. Massage is her hobby, and she has invested several hands-on hours learning techniques from Eng, a certified massage therapist. Holderman's inspiration was her mom, who has neck problems and visits a masseuse for help.
"I figured if I learned about it, she wouldn't have to go as much," she said.
-- Contact reporter Maggie O'Neill at moneill@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.
If you go
WHAT: Certified chair massage to benefit the Second Chance Fund, the Carson City Sheriff's fund to help the children allegedly locked in a bathroom
WHEN: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Carson Mall
COST: $1/per minute of massage
RAFFLE TICKETS: Can be bought from CHS Leadership students or at the massage event
INFORMATION: 887-1296