Humboldt County native son Zack Rukavina has been through a lot in his young life. His older brother Bo was killed in a bicycle accident in Kneeland in 1996 when Zack was 11. Now married and the father of an 18-month old girl, he was diagnosed with a rare sarcoma cancer and his left forearm was amputated a year ago. He needs a prosthetic forearm that has fingers and his insurance company won’t pay for it because it costs $80,000.

Zack is a creative person. He is both an actor and a screenwriter and had some success in his career before he got cancer. Having a hand with fingers is important to his career.

His mother, Suzanne Squire, is reaching out to the community to help raised enough money to get Zack a prosthetic arm that includes a hand with fingers.

On Saturday, July 7, Suzanne and many of Zack’s friends are holding a fundraiser to get him a hand. The event will take place from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Toph’s House in Benbow. There will be a raffle, live auction and a silent auction from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for over $5,000 worth of donations from local businesses. Loreen Eliason from the Riverwood Inn will be the auctioneer.

Dinner will include barbecue and bison burgers, desserts by Amillia’s and Ramone’s Bakery and there will be music all day long and into the night. There are places to stay near Toph’s and plenty of parking. Come to the fundraiser and help Zack get a hand with fingers.