Outpouring of support for Humboldt teen
Humboldt's Ashlyn Clark receives an emotional hug from her uncle Dallas during the June 27 fundraiser at the Humboldt sports complex. Dallas and Ashlyn's uncle Dan Clark played for the Iowa Hawkeyes in an exhibition game of ex-football players from Iowa and Iowa State, many of them with Humboldt connections. Independent photo by Phil Monson.
By Phil Monson
Ashlyn Clark is in a fight for her life but for four hours last Thursday (June 27) night, the Humboldt teen and her family put their worries aside and experienced an overwhelming amount of love and support from the community.
Clark has been battling Stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma for the past eight weeks, but for a few hours, she got to be a teen again as a large crowd came out to support her and her family on 'Ashlyn's Night at the Ballpark'.
The event, hosted by the Humboldt High softball team, included a meal, an auction and many family activities and the main event of the night, a celebrity slow pitch softball game between former Iowa and Iowa State University football players.
“It is absolutely spectacular to see everybody coming here tonight. Having the line of people go so far…it is so indescribable for me,” said Clark, showing her emotion through her voice and tears.
An estimated crowd of close to 3,000 people were on hand for the event which raised money for the Derrik and Kristi Clark family to help defray expenses.
“I get emotional trying to describe it. The only other time I have felt a large crowd like this was last year in our regional final when we got to advance to state. But that wasn't even close to tonight,” Ashlyn said. “That night they were here for other people. Tonight they were all here for me…”
“To feel so much love tonight with all these people here for me. I'm too emotional to describe it..,” Ashlyn said.
Read the full story and view 17 photos from the event in this week's issue of the Humboldt Independent. See more photos from the event on this site by clicking on the Buy A Photo link.
