POST FALLS - Sophie Medlock has touched the community.

And now residents are rallying to help the 2-year-old who was diagnosed with cancer last month and the fourth-generation Post Falls family.

Sophie has started chemotherapy and will continue treatments for two and a half years.

"She understands that she's sick and will be sick for awhile," said Sophie's mother Nicole. "She's incredibly smart and, to be honest, I think she knew how sick she was before we did.

"She's an angel and so full of love."

It was on Mother's Day when father Jake and Nicole noticed things weren't right with their only child.

"She didn't want to play outside and plant flowers," Nicole said. "That's her favorite thing to do."

The next day she was diagnosed with a acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

The news spread quickly into the community and an army of fundraising supporters went to work.

Nicole lost her job when Nighthawk Radiology relocated earlier this year. In hindsight, Nicole calls it a blessing in disguise because she's now able to spend more time with Sophie.

The family has insurance through Jake's job as a sales representative for the dental division of Phillips Sonicare, but the out-of-pocket costs are still expected to be high.

"We have a young family about to go up against a mountain of bills, which we, as their friends and family, would like to assist in offsetting," said John Blanchette, who is organizing a benefit concert, barbecue, auction and raffles at the Pit Stop Tavern in Post Falls on July 9 from noon to 9 p.m.

Two fundraisers - sales at the Post Falls Pizza Hut on Monday and a recent Post Falls Lions Club bottle auction - raised more than $1,000 each.

"When we showed up (at Pizza Hut), the police and firefighters were already there and people were having to park at Super 1," Blanchette said. "We've been blown away by the support."

Other fundraisers include a barbecue, karaoke contest and raffles at the Lions Pavilion at Q'emiln Park in Post Falls on Sunday from 4-7 p.m. and a spay and neuter day at River City Animal Hospital on July 6. Full Circle Satellite is offering $50 to the cause for signups to Dish Network or DirecTV until the end of July.

A benefit account at Inland Northwest Bank in Post Falls has been set up for the family under the name "Rockin' for Medlock."

Post Falls City Council member Linda Wilhelm, a friend of the family, is offering a $250 first-place prize in the karaoke contest and the Post Falls Community Volunteers have donated $500 worth of food for the barbecue.

"They're salt-of-the-earth, hard-working people," Wilhelm said. "When I heard about Sophie, I wanted to do something and I think it's wonderful how everyone wants to get involved."

Nicole graduated from Post Falls High in 1993 and Jake in 1996. She said they've gotten a helping hand from their church, Real Life Ministries.

"It's amazing to live in a community like this, and we are very proud to be a part of it," Nicole said. "I hope that everyone knows how thankful we are. People we don't even know are supporting us."

Nicole said she and Jake are comforted by Sophie's courage and the community's efforts.

"We take it day by day because the big picture can be so overwhelming," Nicole said. "She's so strong and so brave, and that's what keeps us going. She's given us strength that I don't think either one of us had within ourselves before."

Fundraisers

* Sunday - Singing for Sophie, 4-7 p.m., Lions Pavilion, Q'emiln Park, Post Falls, $5 BBQ, karaoke contest, raffles

* July 6 - Spay and neuter day, River City Animal Hospital, 310 N. Herborn Place, Post Falls, 777-9178

* July 9 - Rockin' for Medlock, noon-9 p.m., Pit Stop Tavern, 830 N. Spokane St., Post Falls, music by South of Rock, Coldshot and The Sticky, $5 barbecue, live auction, raffles