The family of a local girl who died a year ago is using their tragedy to help others who may be in a similar situation. Three-year-old Abby Miller drowned last summer while swimming at a private residence.

Abby’s family will be holding the first ever “Light Up the Night-Remembering Abby” fundraising event this Friday evening. The activity will be a fundraiser for Amanda the Panda, a program that helped the Miller family following their loss.

Abby’s mother, Dorothy Miller says the idea came from one of Abby’s siblings following a trip to the Amanda the Panda camp.

The fundraiser will be held Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Sharon Center United Methodist Church in rural Kalona. There will be activities for the entire family ending with a lantern release at the end of the evening. All profits from Friday’s event will go to the Amanda the Panda program, which helps families work through the grieving process.

For more information listen to today’s In Touch With Southeast Iowa program with Dorothy Miller.