Kalee Goolsbey said her friend Jess Rood has impacted many lives in Powell.

“People call her Mighty Mouse, and she’s just a go-go-go getter,” said Goolsbey. 

Now Goolsbey hopes to help Rood raise money to meet her medical expenses by holding a benefit on Saturday, April 23, at the Park County Fairgrounds. 

Rood had been suffering from debilitating headaches and pain for a long time, and doctors had trouble pinpointing exactly what was causing it. 

In June of 2020, Rood learned she’s suffering from Chiari malformation, a condition in which the part of the brain that controls balance, called the cerebellum, extends out through a normal opening in the skull where it joins the spinal canal. The cerebellum then pushes down into the spinal column. 

Rood had surgery in March, and Goolsbey said her friend is doing much better. 

“The surgeon is pretty confident the procedure helped,” she said. 

The Benefit for Jess Rood will feature a silent auction, as well as a live auction conducted by Andy Schwab of Andy Schwab Auction Services. 

There will be live entertainment, including Rood’s band, Blue Sky Roan, which plays gigs in Powell and Cody. 

WYOld West Brewing Company will serve drinks and donate the proceeds to Rood. 

The doors will open at 4:30 p.m.  Dinner – which features a taco bar –  starts at 5 p.m., with the events to follow. Tickets are $10 per person or $25 per family. 

Anyone who’d like to donate or has questions about the event can reach Goolsbey at 307-254-0378.