Benefit auction will support Scleroderma group

A bat and ball autographed by former Seattle Mariners and Washington State Cougars star John Olerud are among the featured items at the fifth annual auction, raffle, walk and picnic benefiting the Scleroderma Foundation Spokane Support Group.

The fundraiser will be June 8 at Mirabeau Meadows Park in Spokane Valley.

Other auction or raffle items include an autographed photo of World Series perfect game pitcher Don Larsen, bicycles, tickets for the Spokane Comedy Club, Spokane Indians and Spokane Chiefs, etc.

An event T-shirt is included in the $25 cost for adults ($30 the day of the event, when a T-shirt can’t be guaranteed) and $10 for children ages 6-12 and free for children 5 and younger.

Teams and individuals may register at Scleroderma.org/ SteppingOutSpokane.

An estimated 300,000 Americans suffer from scleroderma, an autoimmune disease for which there is no cure at this time. Most victims are women of child-bearing age. The disease causes tightening and thickening of the skin and damage to major organs.