Diamond ring found in purse to help Sonoma Co. camp for child cancer survivors

SONOMA COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) -- The search for the owner of a diamond ring found in a purse from a local secondhand store has finally come to an end. 7 On Your Side has been helping with the search since the beginning.

The beneficiaries of all this will be a 15-year-old cancer survivor from Sebastopol and other children with life-threatening conditions. It's proof that diamonds really are a girl's best friend.

Alice Donovan has been going to St. Dorothy's Rest summer camp in Sonoma County since she was first diagnosed at age 8. The camp is for child cancer survivors and organ transplant recipients.

"I love the people," she said. "And I love how you can interact with people who have gone through what I've gone through."

Each summer, the 15-year-old and the other campers can go for free thanks to the generosity of donors.

"I think that's huge," said her mother, Emma Donovan. "I think that's so generous of Saint Dorothy's Rest."

Last year, camp director Katie Evenbeck bought a purse secondhand at the Buffalo Exchange in Berkeley. She was searching for her keys when she found a diamond wedding ring deep inside a hole in the lining of the purse.

Alice's father, Steve Donovan, is convinced there's a reason why she found the ring.

"Massive amount of karma, that's why," he said.

Evenbeck turned to 7 On Your Side for help and we aired several reports like this one and this one to try to find the ring's owner. The police department also put an ad in the paper. Both the stories and ad generated lots of calls from people who lost family heirlooms.

"They've never given up hope," said Lt. Ed Spiller. "I mean it's kind of touching, but granted it was a long shot."

The owner could not be found. So now the ring legally belongs to Evenbeck. It appraised at $1,000.

"We will be putting up an online auction and this ring will be one of a few items that folks can come and bid on," she said.

Alice is impressed with her generosity.

"Some people would probably keep it," she said. "But she did it for like her whole camp and that really shows that she loves St. Dorothy's."

We have great news about that little girl. After receiving a bone marrow transplant a year ago, she is now in 100 percent remission. The 15-year-old had to skip camp last year for her transplant, but is looking forward to returning this year

If you'd like to check out the online auction with the ring and other items, click here.