RUMFORD – Stephanie Tutlis Briggs has so many blessings that she remains upbeat and positive despite her nearly lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis.

“I found out when I was 12, but there’s no reason to dwell on it. We’re not given any more than we can handle. I am so blessed with family, friends, my employer, my surroundings,” she said Tuesday afternoon.

Briggs, a 1994 graduate of Mountain Valley High School, will be placed on the active list for a double transplant operation soon after the first of the year.

Her best friend, Andrea York, family members and many people from the community have been hard at work to try to raise the estimated $300,000 needed for the transplant that is not covered by insurance.

York, a first-grade teacher at Dirigo Elementary School, has been best friends with Briggs since they were both 4 years old.

“She’s one of those people you’d do anything for. She stays positive, and she’s always fun and looks for the best in everyone, ” said York. “She’s always helpful and involved.”

A dance, supper, pick-a-prize auction and raffles will be held from 6 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Eagles Hall in Rumford.

York may be reached at 364-3229 for event or raffle tickets, or they may be purchased at the door.

Those who want to take part can attend the supper or the dance or take a chance on raffles without attending the entire evening’s events. The supper is $6, and the dinner dance is $15. Children under 10 may attend the supper for $4.

The spaghetti supper will be served thanks to York’s parents, Brian and Diane Mitchell, and the dance band is Monsta, a rock band led by Dan McDonald. Auction prizes include Portland Pirates and Seadogs tickets, a stay at Cathedral Pines campground and a wide variety of other items.

York said the 50/50 raffle already has $1,100 in it, and nearly 60 tickets have been sold for the dinner dance.

“This is a real community effort. Friends we haven’t seen in years are coming or have donated,” said York.

A Web site, www.newbreath4steph.com, lists a variety of other information.

All contributions are tax deductible because they fall under the nonprofit umbrella of the National Transplant Assistance Fund, an organization based in Pennsylvania with the goal of helping people who face serious medical challenges.

Briggs grew up in Rumford and married Brian Briggs, a MVHS graduate from Mexico. She lives in Limerick and works at home for St. Joseph’s College in Standish, from which she graduated in 1998, in online admissions.

The college is also holding a fundraising dance for Briggs on Jan. 24.

York, her family, Briggs’ family and others have also baked pies and cakes for food sales or to order to raise money, as well as created a variety of crafts, and earlier in the month, helped with another fundraiser in Standish.

Briggs’ brother-in-law, Geoff Carlton, owner of a business in New Hampshire, is offering a maximum velocity stunt show at MVHS on Jan. 10 with all proceeds to go toward Briggs’ transplant.

Efforts so far have raised about $5,000, said York.

Briggs has 40 percent of what she should have for breathing capacity and has spent many weeks off and on in a hospital receiving antibiotics. She was diagnosed with the illness when she was 12. When a pair of lungs becomes available, she will enter Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston for the procedure. It will take months for her recovery.

She said she is overwhelmed by the support she has received.

“I’ve been away for so long, and the community is still supporting me,” Briggs said.