Ellie Scherbarth loves the outdoors. The six-year-old niece of Fraternal Order of Leatherheads Society Membership Trustee Ben Sheppard would rather be hunting, fishing, camping, or watching auto races than doing just about anything else. These days, however, Ellie can only draw on the memories of her past outdoor adventures. She has terminal cancer.

A fundraising benefit, spearheaded by Ben and Ellie's mother, Annie Sheppard, to help defray medical expenses will be held for Ellie on Feb. 28 from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Hastings, Neb., City Auditorium. The event will include a silent auction, raffles, bake sale, and a free-will donation meal.

Ellie was diagnosed with stage IV Wilm's Tumor - a cancer of the kidneys - with anaplasia, on February 3, 2009. Doctors gave the family little hope of recovery because of the advanced stage and the type of cancer.

Shortly afterwards, Ellie began chemotherapy. In May, she successfully underwent surgery to remove her kidney and tumor. One month later, she began radiation treatments to her chest and abdomen. Since then, Ellie has suffered many ups and downs and a number of setbacks.

In December, the family learned that the cancer had returned and had invaded Ellie's lungs. They also learned she has a very aggressive tumor growing on the lining of her chest wall, which apparently was present and growing even as she was undergoing chemotherapy. It has not responded to treatment.

Ellie has spent months at Children's Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha. Her family has remained at her side. Uncle Ben has logged thousands of miles driving between his home in Hastings and the hospital in Omaha, sometimes making the 157-mile round trip and back in a 24-hour period when word comes that Ellie is not doing well. When Ellie's health and spirits are up, they are found running wheelchair races through the oncology ward, spraying silly string in the hallways or on unsuspecting hospital staff, or having makeover and fingernail painting parties – Ben good-naturedly sporting bright pink polish on his nails and blush on his cheeks.

“For me to spend time with Ellie is like me going hunting or doing farm work, it just makes me so happy,” said Ben. “My sister and I have always been close, so when Ellie came along it only brought us closer. There is an ongoing joke in the family -- when Ellie was younger she would act in some of the most unusual ways, so I started calling her a “nerd.” She soon picked up on it and I was the “gomer.” Ellie bug, UB loves ya and you will always be my nerd!!”

In honor of his niece's love for the outdoors, Ben has begun efforts to establish “Ellie's Angels,” a non-profit organization similar to the “Make-A-Wish Foundation” to take terminally ill children camping, fishing or hunting. He and a number of friends have worked tirelessly to garner support from businesses, such as outdoor store Cabela's, and hunting ranches in Nebraska and Texas, to make the endeavor a success. Currently, Ellie's Angels is established in Nebraska, but Ben hopes to eventually expand it to help children nationwide.

In the meantime, however, Ben and his family are concentrating on making the Feb. 28 benefit successful. Some of the auction and raffle prizes include: six NASCAR nationwide tickets and six Spring Cup tickets (races on Oct. 2 and 3 at Kansas Speedway), overnight hotel stays, hockey tickets, guns, signed sports jerseys, etc.

For more information on this event, how you can help, or on Ellie's Angels, contact Ben Sheppard at membership@foolsinternational.com. Donations for the Feb. 28 benefit may be sent to: Ellie Scherbarth Benefit, PO Box 218, Hastings, NE 68902.

To follow Ellie's progress, subscribe to www.caringbridge.org/visit/ellierosescherbarth.