An $18,000 donation was made to a young cancer patient, Angelina Chavez, who attends Wawasee Middle School, on Sunday, June 22, at the American Legion Post 223, Syracuse.
Shown in the front row from left are mother, Kristen Chavez, Angelina Chavez and father, Manuel Chavez. In the middle row are Kim Jensen, The Eagles; Jimmy Cavender, American Legion Riders and The Eagles; Melissa Smith, The Eagles; Jill Knafel, ALR; Linda Yoder, ALR; Jim Strout, ALR; Steve Yoder, ALR; Randy Rinker, ALR; Lisa Rinker, ALR; Dennis Berinti, ALR; and Angie Bontrager, a teacher at WMS. In back row are Brian Faux, ALR; Ben Rhodes, American Legion; Brad Rauguth, ALR; Blake Knafel, ALR; Chad Berkeypile, president of ALR; and Erv Ciesialka, ALR. InkFreeNews photo by Phoebe Muthart.

By Phoebe Muthart
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — A donation was made to a young cancer patient, who attends Wawasee Middle School, Sunday, June 22, at the American Legion Post 223 in Syracuse.

The American Legion Riders organized the event. A check for $18,000 was given to the girl’s parents, Kristen and Manuel Chavez.

Angelina Chavez is a student at WMS. She is fighting osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer. She goes to Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis for treatment.

About 1,000 new cases of osteosarcoma are reported each year in the U.S. It happens most often in children, teens, and young adults and it happens slightly more often in males than in females.

Also, two $250 gas cards were donated.

WMS donated $5,275. The middle school was one of the major contributors to the fundraiser. In addition, a benefit was held June 7, at the Eagles in Syracuse and it donated all the funds raised that day.

The American Legion Riders donated $13,000.

There were 26 donors. Among the donors are: Smoker Craft, Randy and Jo Baskerville, Main Channel Marina, Nappanee ALR, Elkhart Indian, South Shore Social, Griffith’s Wawasee Marina, Larry Lant, American Legion Riders, Wawasee Gift Shop, Ace Hardware, NAPA, Wawasee Middle School, as well as others.