SIDNEY, Neb. — The Cheyenne County community rallied in overwhelming support of two-year-old Beckett Block and his family Friday night at the "Beckett Tough" fundraiser, filling the Sidney Elk’s Lodge beyond capacity and showcasing the power of small-town generosity.

The event, organized by Carolyn Stoll and Gina Christensen, saw more than 300 attendees, packing every table and chair available, with standing room only left for residents who traveled from across western Nebraska, northeast Colorado and southeast Wyoming.

Christensen said she was hopeful for a full house, but the turnout exceeded all expectations.

"The amount of people that came to support Beckett and his parents was second to none," she said. "We ran out of tables and chairs—it was overwhelming. Every single donation and person who attended made an impact. My favorite auction item was the 18-pack of eggs that Randy and Tracy Miller bought for $1,170—the most fun and memorable moment of the night!"

The night featured a freewill donation barbecue dinner, silent and live auctions and an outpouring of community support for Beckett, who is fighting high-risk stage 4 neuroblastoma. Beckett’s mother, Jacki Block, expressed deep gratitude for the community’s response.

"Never in a million years did we anticipate such overwhelming support and love," she said. "We are truly fortunate to reside in such a remarkable place. We extend our sincerest gratitude to everyone who attended and supported Beckett, and a special thank you to Carolyn, Gina and the exceptional team of volunteers who made this possible."

The auction, donations and sponsorships helped raise money to assist the Block family as Beckett continues his battle. Stoll described the night as "unbelievable."

"The community really stepped up," she said. "The money raised was incredible and went beyond expectations. Thank you to Lee and Pat Herz for making sure everyone was fed, and to everyone supporting this family not just through this event, but through their prayers."

Last week, Beckett underwent surgery with hopes at least 90% of the tumor could be removed without causing damage to vital organs. Jacki described the procedure as “the best possible outcome” as doctors discovered the tumor was free-floating in his body above his kidney and had only attached to a single vein. As a result, surgeons were able to remove 100% of the tumor with no damage to his kidney or liver.

At Saturday's High Plains Pheasants Forever Banquet at the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds, the Simplot Grower Solutions table was the highest bidder to go eat dinner first. Their bid of $2,200 also went to the Block family.

As Beckett begins his recovery journey, donations are still being taken during t-shirt fundraiser through Shirt Tales where people can purchase shirts with Beckett's official "Beckett Tough" logo on them. Proceeds from the shirt sales go directly to the family.