Published: June 08, 2009 02:18 pm      

Benefit for Peking’s ‘Sally’ to be held June 22

Local News

Peking Restaurant in Somerset still offers the same delicious Chinese food, but something very special is missing.

That special something is Arceli (“Sally”) Nonato Fraley who suffered a stroke on May 20 and remains a patient at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington.

A benefit for Sally, who has no health insurance and whose recovery will be long, is planned for Monday evening, June 22, at Denham Street Baptist Church’s Activity Center at 400 Denham St., beginning at 6 p.m.

Planned are both live and silent auctions, music, refreshments and someone available to receive general donations from the public to be used for Sally’s medical care and rehabilitation.

Peking Restaurant will be donating the refreshments which will be available for purchase with all the proceeds going to Sally.

Karl David Reynolds with Ford Brothers Realty & Auctioneers has signed on to donate his services to auction items contributed by the public.

“Sally is one of the most exceptional people I know. She remembers every one of her customer’s names, asks about their children – by name – and even knows what you prefer to drink. I told her one time I would be her campaign manager if she ever wanted to run for mayor, but she told me she was too smart to ever go into politics and maybe she was right!” said Gloria Sams, who along with Peking Restaurant owner Libby Chang and Sarah Cook (owner of West 80 Truck Parts) is helping organize the benefit.

Said Cook: “Sally has helped so many of us raise our children. She must have worked at Peking for over 20 years. This is the community’s opportunity to say thank you to her and to help out in her time of need.”

Every day Peking customers drop in not just to eat, but to ask how Sally is doing. So many people have been concerned, a special Facebook page has been set up to keep people informed about her progress. Countless friends are posting their greetings and their commitment to pray for Sally on the site as she recovers. (Visit the Web site www.face book.com and search for Arceli Nonato.)

“Our family is so touched by all the prayers, and e-mails and messages we are receiving on behalf of my mom. We are reading every one of them to her and I think she is hearing them, I really do! People are even driving to Lexington to see her and I think she is being helped by everything Somerset is doing. We are so grateful,” said daughter, Chriscelyn Tussey.

The person all of Somerset knows as “Sally” came to the United States from the Philippines with her parents as a child. They lived in California for many years where Sally graduated from the University of Southern California (UCLA). She has two daughters – Christie Snell of Somerset and Dr. Chriscelyn Tussey of Charlottesville, Va. Both daughters and husband, Dennis Fraley, have been by her side night and day since her stroke on May 20.

An ardent sports enthusiast, it was reported that Sally was watching a professional basketball game when the stroke occurred. Many friends have been cheering her on as she struggles to regain her health, telling her she must get well in order to see next year’s University of Kentucky basketball team under new coach, John Calipari.

The special community event to benefit Sally is still in the planning stages, but the success of the live and silent auction will be important.

Planners are hoping that Sally’s friends will donate such items as: art, handmade items, tickets to special events, services or products, musical instruments, jewelry, collectibles, small furniture or accessories, travel or trip-related accommodations – anything which might be purchased by those who would like a nice auction item but primarily hope to help Sally and her family.

Auction items may be left at either West 80 Truck Parts, 381 West Ky. 80, in Somerset, or Kentucky Cancer Program, 501 College St., Suite C, in Somerset Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On the day of the event (Monday, June 22) someone will be at Denham Street Baptist Church’s Activity Center to receive auction items beginning at 1 p.m.

An account in the name of Arceli “Sally” Nonato Fraley is being set up at a local bank. In the meantime, those who wish to make a donation may make their checks payable to the “Sally Fund” and either leave them in the collection jar at Peking Restaurant or mail them to: The Sally Fund, c/o Libby Chang, Peking Restaurant, 1004 South U.S. 27, Somerset, KY 42501.

For more information call any of the following people: Sarah Cook at 679-4829, Gloria Sams at 875-1442 or Libby Chang at 679-2781.