A line of people wrapped through the halls of the Knights of Columbus and out the door into the evening as the community rallied around one little girl with Vicksburg ties.

A pancake dinner and silent auction for Mia Calnan, a 7-year-old who has been diagnosed with leukemia for the second time in her life, was held at the Knights of Columbus Friday night.

“We are just astounded by the outpouring of support,” said her grandfather, Lt. Col. Mike Calnan.

Mia lives in Chesapeake, Va., with her parents William and Christina and her little brother Michael, almost 5.

Mia’s aunt Heather and grandparents Lt. Col. Mike and Karen Calnan still live in Vicksburg, where the family moved in the early 1990s and has made their home base.

Mike worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Karen was a second grade teacher at St. Francis.

“This is really the only place our crazy military family has had a home,” Heather said.

The local Calnan family attends St. Michael Catholic Church, and Heather approached the Knights of Columbus about setting up a fundraiser.

“I knew this community would support them really well,” Heather said.

Mike is proud of his daughter for putting the fundraiser together.

Heather said her brother was in the Naval Special Forces and is a very strong person who doesn’t accept help lightly. She feels like this is the one way she can really help her brother’s family.

“My brother got out of the Navy in November right before her cancer came back, and basically both of her parents are veterans and don’t really have a primary source of income right now,” Heather Calnan said.

This is the second time Mia has been diagnosed with cancer.

She was originally diagnosed in May 2011, and her last chemotherapy treatment was in September 2012.

“This course of treatment has been a lot harder on her,” Heather said.

“She lost sight for a little over two months. They ended up having to do eye surgery.”

Mia’s diagnosis came Christmas Eve and she has been at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk, Va., since then.

The family traveled to Duke Children’s Hospital April 4 to prepare Mia for a bone marrow transplant scheduled for April 29. Mia will have to be in isolation for 100 days once she starts radiation to kill the existing bone marrow next week.

“Then they infuse new healthy bone marrow, which will then rebuild her immune system,” Mike said.

A video message from Mia was played at the dinner thanking everyone for the support. She plans on writing thank you cards to the donors.

This fundraiser will help fund medical bills and travel expenses. Members of the Catholic Youth Organization helped serve food and take donations.

Multiple items like paintings and toys were donated for a silent auction.

Mike said all the food and plates were donated by local businesses like Newk’s, Goldie’s Trail Bar-B-Que and Rowdy’s Family Restaurant.

Wristbands and tumbler cups bearing images of ducks, Mia’s favorite animal, and the words “Fight Like Mia,” were available for purchase to help the cause.

To support the Calnan family email Heather at h_calnan@bellsouth.net or visit youcaring.com/mia-isabella-calnan-541598.