AUBURN - Dozens of pink balloons, tables full of prize baskets, a clown, a disc jockey, two bands, 250 pounds of ziti, 2,000 meatballs, and hundreds of friends, family and strangers were all packed into Falcon Lanes Saturday for one reason: Caitlyn Stefanak.

Caitlyn, a 2-year-old who loves pink, butterflies, and princesses, has been battling a rare form of cancer, neuroblastoma, since early this year. The hospital visits, the doctors, and daily life are often a struggle for Caitlyn, her mother, Mandy Warren, father, Brian Stefanak, and older brother, Xavier Currier. To help raise money for Caitlyn's treatment, and - more importantly - to demonstrate the support network available to the family, Melissa Besner, a friend and relative, organized a fund-raising event that nearly 1,000 people came out to attend.

“We knew people would come,” Besner said. “I just didn't realize in such abundance.”

Guests shuffled through the ziti line and down the row of raffle prizes in a room too crowded to move freely and nearly too dense to breathe sufficiently.

At $10 a ticket, plus a raffle, Besner estimated that they raised more than $10,000, which will be put toward Caitlyn's medical costs.

Tamy Kenny and her 2-year-old daughter, Olivia, were among those who waited in line to get in to see Caitlyn and Mandy, a long-time friend. “She's just so strong. Caitlyn is so strong - she just bounces right back."

Caitlyn learned about the party Friday night, her mother said. No one was certain if she and her family would be able to attend the event - it is impossible to predict how well Caitlyn will feel on any given day.

But Saturday, she felt fine - until she was met by such a large, enthusiastic crowd.

After the clapping subdued, Caitlyn retreated to a special children's area filled with arts supplies and balloons, where she painted with other guests her age, away from the band jamming Tom Petty covers in the other room.

Caitlyn enjoyed herself once she was lured away from the painting table, the butterfly on her cheek seemed to shutter its wings as she smiled at guests from her perch against her grandmother's shoulder.

But for Mandy, the coming week's challenges - Caitlyn begins treatment again on Monday - were fresh in her mind.

“I know tomorrow is another day, and I know Monday I'll be in the hospital,” she said. “I have these few hours today.”

All the more reason to have a party, said Terry Mahoney, Brian's aunt, “It's essential.”

“You can't get bogged down in the negative,” Mahoney said as she dished out meatballs and sauce to hungry guests. With her best impression of Italian gusto, she yelled out to the wispy blonde head passing through the crowd,” Hey Caitlyn! You wanta meat-a-ball?”

Staff writer Sarah Gantz can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or sarah.gantz@lee.net