Cassandra Roy, left, and her mother, Diana Roy, of Mechanic Falls purchase handmade ornaments Thursday during Ornaments for Hope at Gritty McDuff’s in Auburn. Cassandra Roy is a 2019 graduate of St. Dominic Academy in Auburn. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Brayden Bashaw, 17, of Auburn raises money Thursday for the Make-A-Wish Foundation by selling handmade Christmas ornaments at Gritty McDuff’s in Auburn. The Edward Little High School junior has raised $75,000 for nonprofit organizations since he started Ornaments for Hope when he was 9 years old. He hoped to raise an additional $25,000 Thursday evening. Bashaw’s grandmother, Doris Comeau, hand-stitched 200 ornaments and made 350 cookies for the fundraiser. Bashaw and his parents made an additional 300 ornaments and collected items from 75 local businesses for the event’s silent auction. “We are supporting a great cause,” Bashaw said. “A lot of people have made a tradition of coming each year.” Helping Bashaw is his ski coach, Scott Berube, right. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Renee Roy chats Thursday with Brayden Bashaw during Ornaments for Hope for the Make-A-Wish Foundation at Gritty McDuff’s in Auburn. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Brayden Bashaw receives a hug from Michelle Gagne on Thursday during his Make-A-Wish fundraiser, Ornaments for Hope, at Gritty McDuff’s in Auburn. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Jillian Dumais of Auburn selects an ornament Thursday during Ornaments for Hope’s Make-A-Wish Foundation fundraiser at Gritty McDuff’s in Auburn. Dumais, a cancer survivor, was a Make-A-Wish Foundation recipient when she was 2 years old and was granted her wish to go to Walt Disney World. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Brayden Bashaw’s grandmother, Doris Comeau, hand-stitched 200 ornaments and made 350 cookies for Ornaments for Hope to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The fundraiser was held Thursday at Gritty McDuff’s in Auburn. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Brayden Bashaw, 17, of Auburn raises money Thursday for the Make-A-Wish Foundation by selling handmade Christmas ornaments at Gritty McDuff’s in Auburn. Kim Delano, Brayden’s former neighbor, said she remembers him dressing up as Santa Claus one Halloween. When she told him she had a 12-foot Christmas tree, he said, “‘That’s my dream.'” Christmas has always been a special time of year for Bashaw, his mother, Stacey Bashaw, said. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Edward Little High School students walk Thursday to Gritty McDuff’s in Auburn to support their classmate, Brayden Bashaw, as he raises money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal


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