Friends of a longtime Albany kindergarten teacher fighting breast cancer have organized a silent auction this week, among other fundraisers, to help her keep up with medical bills.

The auction is going on at the Venetian Theater, 241 First Ave. W., through Sunday. It is one of several efforts to help Marlana Graham, who stopped teaching at Clover Ridge Elementary School following her diagnosis this past December.

Graham, 54, taught at Takena, Lafayette, Fir Grove and Sunrise schools before moving to Clover Ridge in 1996. For three years, she taught teachers at the Early Childhood Education Program Preschool at Oregon State University. She has worked with numerous student teachers and cadet teachers, mentored colleagues and tutored children of all grades.

She has been unable to work and has been trying to keep up her insurance coverage since her diagnosis, said Linda Westbrook, organizer of the fundraisers.

Westbrook, owner of Stop n Go Market, had a grandchild in one of Graham's classes and a daughter whom Graham tutored. Graham's profound impact on hundreds of children, especially her help in developing their love of reading, has inspired friends to do everything they can to help her, Westbrook said.

Along with coordinating the auction and other events, Westbrook and other friends have opened a bank account in Graham's name at Wells Fargo of Albany.

The events:

• Silent auction, presented through Plainview Church, closing Sunday. Bid numbers are available at the Venetian or at Stop n Go Market, 628 Ellsworth St. S.W. The Venetian is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday. Items up for bid include several one-of-a-kind collectibles featuring racecar driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., donated by Pepsi of Corvallis; Mary Kay beauty products; jewelry; cedar planters; gift baskets; and a boating day at Foster Lake for eight.

• Barbecue and car-wash fundraiser, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, in the Stop n Go parking lot. Balloons and a bake sale are also planned.

• Paper "clovers," selling for $1 each through July. Clovers are available at Stop n Go and at the Tom Tom Deli, 321 Airport Road S.E.

• Raffle for neon signs and other items, Stop n Go Market. Drawing is July 14. Tickets on sale now.