A life that was short but touched many will be celebrated on Saturday.

Organizers of a benefit for Alayna Taylor said they plan to go forward with the event, which will be held from 12 noon until 8 p.m. at West Springs Baptist Church.

Alayna, the daughter of Jared and Lacy Taylor, passed away on Saturday. She was born 15 weeks prematurely on Jan. 31 at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center. Her funeral was held Tuesday.

Family friend Darrell Kendrick said organizers of the event plan for it to be a celebration of Alayna’s life.

“I’m sure there will be tears shed, but we also want it to be upbeat,” he said.

Jared Taylor said more than 80,000 people have read Alayna’s story on www.caringbridge.org. The Taylors have used Alayna’s story to spread their Christian faith and they wrote about their faith on the website.

The event will feature a big slide for children, a dunking booth, games, a silent auction, an appearance by the medical transport helicopter Regional One, fire trucks and a shooting simulator.

Hamburgers, hot dogs, chili, chicken stew, desserts and an ice cream sundae bar will be among the food items sold.

There will be live entertainment all day including the Campground Boys from Cowpens, Ricky McKinney and Friends from Jonesville and other local talent.

“West Springs Idol” will be featured that evening. Emcee will be WBCU’s Mike Stevens.

Silent auction items include a signed and numbered print by James Partee Jr., autographed Clemson football and basketball, Furman football helmet, two Wofford football season tickets, pearl necklaces, Oreck vacuum combo, ladies purses, a two-night vacation stay in a home in the North Carolina mountains, vacation home rental at Ocean Lakes (after season), bulldozing services, a two-night stay at River Oaks Golf Resort in Murrells Inlet, golf clubs, restaurant gift cars, oil changes at In & Out, oil changes at Dave Edwards, framed Rashad Jackson Clemson football jersey, two-way radios, Civil War replica sword and sheath, collectors baseball cards, a smoker grill and much more.

The Clemson Tiger mascot will be present for pictures.

(Alayna’s grandparents are Sheriff David and Betty Jo Taylor, Ricky and Jeannine McKinney and Joel and Renee Willard. Donations to the Taylors may be made to “Alayna Taylor Medical Expense Fund, Arthur State Bank, 100 East Main St., Union, S.C. 29379.)