More than $18,000 has been raised for the daughters of Seth Fairbanks, the pilot from Bethel who died after a plane crash in early August.
After learning of her friend’s death, Bethel resident Nikki Corbett hosted an online auction on Facebook. The funds went to a trust fund for Seth Fairbanks’ twin daughters.
“When something like this happens every one kind of comes together and helps the families,” Corbett said. “It’s been an amazing outpouring of support.”
Corbett was out of town when she heard about the accident but still felt a call to action. She got the OK and began planning.
“I didn’t think it would turn out to be so big,” Corbett said. “I was only thinking there would be about 30 items because that’s how it started out. I think it ended up being over 50, 60 items.”
Donation items included everything from handmade children’s clothing and pottery to canned salmon and handcrafted artwork. Donations came mostly from the Bethel region and Anchorage area, with some items coming as far as Arizona.
“Now’s the fun part where we have to get everything ready and process it and send it out,” Corbett said.
Corbett and Fairbanks’ mother will cover the cost of shipping and they hope to send items out soon.
Fairbanks, who was 29 and living in McGrath, died with passenger Anthony Hooper after his plane crashed in the Knik Arm River. He was traveling to Anchorage for his sister’s wedding reception.
“I’ve just known him since grade school. We were great friends through high school,” Corbett said. “It was amazing to see him evolve from when his daughters were first born. He was a great dad.”
