BY CINDY GEORGE
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Micah, 7, and Jordan Sears, 10, celebrate their success. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

ANDERSON TOWNSHIP - Children emptied their piggy banks. Burly Bengals offered autographed footballs. Reds star Barry Larkin gave signed baseballs. And dozens of people - many complete strangers - handed over thousands of dollars.

But the biggest heroes at Saturday's auction that raised $41,500 for a wheelchair-equipped van for Rebecca Sowers, an 8-year-old girl with cerebral palsy, were Micah and Jordan Sears.

They donated their 101 prized Baby Beanies for the auction. Bids were taken on another 88 of the stuffed animals, donated by individuals and businesses.

Micah, 7, is Rebecca's classmate at Ayers Elementary School.

Jamie Sowers hugs husband, Ken, who teared up during auction for their daughter, Rebecca, at left. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

"It was unreal," said Jamie Sowers, Rebecca's mother. "The feelings that I have are beyond love."

The avalanche of charity came from a community that "treats her like regular, because she is regular," Mrs. Sowers said of her daughter.

Rebecca can't walk or talk, but her magnetic smile has won lots of friends.

The fund-raiser, organized by the Anderson Hills Kiwanis, moved Rebecca's dad, Ken Sowers, to tears several times.

"We're getting more than we're giving away," said Jordan Sears, 10. "We're getting the happiness of Rebecca's family."

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BEANIE BABIES AUCTION WILL HELP SICK FRIEND July 18, 1997