Three children with life-threatening illnesses and local ties to Exira, Audubon, and Harlan will be honored at a spaghetti dinner and silent auction at the Exira Recreational Center on Sunday, Oct 15, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The children being honored are all sponsored children of Tori’s Angels Foundation: five-year-old Hayden Weisenborn of Exira, four-year-old Hudson Elmquist of Ankeny, and nine-year-old Jaxon Rold of Harlan. The event is sponsored by the Exira Lions, the Exira Masons, and Tori’s Angels Foundation. The public is invited to enjoy a free-will offering lunch featuring three spaghetti sauces, tossed salad, garlic bread, desserts, and drinks. Those wishing to donate desserts are asked to bring them to the Exira Rec Center or the Exira Lions Center by 11 a.m. if possible. The large silent auction of valuable and interesting items donated by local businesses and supporters will end at 1:30 p.m.
Hayden and Jaxon have been treated for brain tumors, and Hudson is being treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Hayden is the son of Terry and Jennifer Weisenborn of Exira, and the grandson of Allen and Julie Nissen of Exira. Hudson is the son of Bryan and McKenzie Elmquist of Ankeny (formerly of Audubon) and the grandson of Phil and Anna Elmquist and Pam Wetzel, all of Audubon. Jaxon is the son of Trent Rold and Devin Mahoney of Harlan, grandson of Kay and Lori Rold of Harlan and Deb Mahoney of Defiance, and great-grandson of Larry and Lois Thygesen of Audubon.
Tickets for the Exira Lions raffle to benefit Tori’s Angels will be sold at the lunch. The Lions Club International is focusing on helping children with cancer, which has affected nineteen of Tori’s Angels’ thirty total sponsored children. First prize is $1,000 in groceries at any HyVee. Second prize is an electric generator valued at $649, and third prize is a beautiful Hearts-themed quilt, valued at $150.
Tori’s Angels currently supports 24 children in central Iowa. The foundation raises funds to help the families of their supported children who have life-threatening medical conditions. The foundation pays all medical expenses not covered by insurance from the date of sponsorship until the child’s 19th birthday. This includes travel expenses to treatment (airfare, mileage, hotel, meals), as well as prescriptions, co-pays and deductibles.
Those unable to attend the benefit and who wish to donate to help Hayden, Hudson, Jaxon and other Tori’s Angels children are invited to send donations to the foundation’s chairman, Bill Ridgley, at 4677 Panorama Dr, Panora IA 50216. An online donation option is located on the Tori’s Angels Facebook page. Supporters can “Like” the Tori’s Angels Facebook page to receive regular updates on the children.
For more information about Tori’s Angels or to request an application for support, contact the foundation’s chairman, Bill Ridgley, at bridgley@netins.net or 712-249-6423.
