Friends with benefits

Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about Sarah Herndon, the young mother who died after a four-year battle with cancer. As I wrote then, I never met her, but had a lot of respect for her because of the volunteer work she did for the Reno Cancer Foundation, the small nonprofit organization managed by my mom.

Over the weekend, I received a message from a friend about a fundraiser on behalf of Sarah’s two young daughters. Courtney Aaron, a local photographer, volunteered to take family portraits for folks who made donations to help the girls.

So, Margot and I rounded up the brood in semi-presentable attire and headed over to Greco Rose Studio, 720 Tahoe St., a combination beauty salon and photo studio, which donated its space for the fundraiser. Tessa Miller of The Nest created a set for photos. It was a nice little event, and I can’t wait to see the finished photos of my goofball little family.

Donations for Herndon’s daughters can be made out to The Ephrom Children Trust and mailed to Rochelle Ramacher, 1608 Del Rosa Way, Sparks NV 89434. Visit courtneyaaron.com/portraits-for-sarahs-girls for more information.

Two days earlier, I participated in a different kind of fundraiser. Last summer, prolific Reno musician Chris Fox started corralling Reno musicians to perform songs for a tribute album to iconic Reno punk band 7 Seconds. That eventually led to 25 Reno bands recording 25 different songs in less than three days, March 2-4, at the Sound Saloon recording studio. Album sales will benefit the local youth-oriented arts nonprofit the Holland Project.

About 100 different musicians and engineers contributed. It was fun to participate, and then watch from afar on social media since I wasn’t able to be there most of the weekend because I had to take the kids to get a family portrait.