Sartin's father, Gareth Sartin, is a coach at Bogue Chitto High School, and his mother, Jessica Wallace Sartin, was an athlete during her time at Bogue Chitto High, so what better way to keep up the attack on Felder's leukemia than with a sports auction?

Organizer Denise Leggett said the idea popped up one day after Felder was first diagnosed with the disease and a man in the community said he could get something with former NFL quarterback and Alcorn State University alumnus Steve McNair's autograph to raffle off.

"So I thought, 'I wonder if I could get more stuff donated.' So I called and e-mailed around and ended up with more pro athletes and a really good turnout," she said. "So we set up a sports memorabilia auction."

The silent auction will be held starting at 6:30 p.m. at the recreation department, and will feature memorabilia from such greats as NFL quarterbacks Eli Manning and Drew Brees, baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, NASCAR driver Dale Earnhart Jr. and many others.

"Bill Sones called yesterday with a Johnny Bench ball; he's a hall of famer for the Cincinnati Reds," she said. "The older memorabilia is rarer, it's harder to find those things."

Leggett said in order to be ensured access to the auction, steak and chicken plates are being sold for $25 for adults and $10 for children, which counts the dinner and admission to the auction. The deadline is Friday, March 27 to buy tickets, Leggett said.

And so far, the fundraisers for Felder have exceeded expectations, Leggett said. Organizers of the sports auction hope it will do the same.

"It's been unreal," she said. "People talk about the economy, but it's been a true blessing how many in Bogue Chitto and Brookhaven and the business community have been doing their part to help."

Anyone interested in information on the sports auction or steak and chicken plates can contact Leggett at 601-757-6769 or 601-734-2737.