UPDATE SUNDAY MORNING:

VISIT C & P COFFEe today to help Charlie:

Sometime wonderful things come in small packages. That is the case with Charlie, the little dog who accompanies White Center resident Sydni Smith almost everywhere she goes. Charlie is a chronic sufferer of allergies and treatment is expensive. Smith is attempting to raise $900 toward veterinarian bills via two bake sales this weekend with her "Cookies for Charlie" effort.

Charlie is a year and a half old, a female chihuahua / mini-schnauzer and was born in South Park.

Saturday from noon - 4:00 p.m. near the corner of 9th Ave SW and SW Cloverdale St. near Westcrest Park's off-leash area.

Sunday from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at C&P Coffee, 5612 California Ave. SW near
Findlay.

Smith is both an advocate for Multiple Sclerosis, and a sufferer of the debilitating disease. She can drive, and gets around OK with a cane, and with Charlie, who helps keep her mind off her painful flare-ups. Because of her disability, she struggles with bills and cannot currently handle a full-time job. That said, Smith seems to find the energy to help others in the West Seattle community.

The West Seattle Herald has written four articles illustrating Sydni Smith's generosity toward others.

1) Last August Smith co-organized the benefit "Walk on Jayme" at RockSport Pub in the Alaska Junction for Jayme Miller who contracted paralysis through a rare disease, and is improving steadily, reported here:

2) Also last August, Smith & her friend Helen Johnson helped reunite Cheyenne, a golden retriever, with her owner in Alki, reported here:

3) She participated in our May 16 article here by openly discussing her experience with Muliple Sclerosis and desire to spread awareness of the often misunderstood disease. The article also featured William Khazaal, the son of Hussein Khazaal, who owned the Phoenecia Restaurant in West Seattle, and his struggle with MS and "MS Children's Book" he has published.

4) Sydni Smith is on the organizing committee for the Aug. 7 benefit for West Seattle's Tracy Dart, to help with her mounting expenses due to her fight with breast cancer we reported on just last week.

Those close to Smith have told the West Seattle Herald she continues to quietly involve herself with acts of kindness toward members of the community, many which go unnoticed by most.

You can meet Sydni and Charlie at the bake sales and purchase cookies, cupcakes and more, or write a check to:

Animal Skin and Allergy Clinic

If you cannot make either bake sale, checks can also be mailed to:

Animal Skin and Allergy Clinic11040 11th Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98146

You may also donate through PayPal at heysyd@gmail.com

Check out the "Cookies for Charlie" Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=219879494720465