Saturday's the big day in Masset, as the local Lions Club hosts the annual Timmy Telethon to raise money for the hospital and for Vancouver's Easter Seal House.Most of the money raised at the telethon, about 90 percent, will stay on island and go to the hospital for special items identified by staff, said telethon chair Bob Isaacs. The rest will go to Easter Seal House, which provides shelter for medical patients who have to travel to Vancouver for treatment.A group of dedicated Lions has been working hard to make sure Saturday's telethon runs smoothly, Mr. Isaacs said, but donations for the auction have been a bit slower than usual."I'm sure it has something to do with the economy," he said Monday. "We're all ready volunteer-wise. But auction items coming in are pretty slow."Usually, the Lions have about 60 items by the Monday before the telethon, but this year they had only 29, he said."I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that things change, dramatically," he said.All donations are welcomed, Mr. Isaacs said, including lower-priced ones. It's great for the auction to have a range of items for people to bid on, and every little bit helps.Donations can be dropped off at the Masset village office during the week or at the community hall on Saturday (Nov. 27).Everyone is welcome to drop by the Howard Phillips community hall Saturday to watch the auction action, Mr. Isaacs said. There will be entertainment, including a dance group, and Santa Claus will be making an appearance around 2 pm. The telethon, broadcast on MHTV, will keep on going until all the items have been auctioned off, usually around midnight or 1 am, he said.This is the 31st year that the Masset-Haida Lions have held the telethon, and the fundraiser is just as popular as ever."It's amazing how the community comes together every year for this event," Mr. Isaacs said.