The turnout at a recent fundraising event at the Fire & Ice Pizzeria & Creamery in St. Joseph for a tiny girl was astounding, and the money was spectacular, but the need goes on and another event is coming up this weekend in Hartford.
Lori Costanza, owner and operator of Fire & Ice on Niles Road in St. Joe was ecstatic when 500 people showed up at her place back on September 16th and rounded up $20,000 for Justin & Lindsey Rosen and their 21 month old baby girl Maci Rae. Costanza donated 100-percent of the money made that night to the cause and many generous businesses donated items to be raffled off while those in attendance were exceptionally generous to the cause.
Justin & Lindsey of Berrien Springs were all set to celebrate their third wedding anniversary this summer when they received devastating news that Maci Rae has stage 4 neuroblastoma. That is a rare childhood disease where immature nerve cells grow into cancerous tumors instead of functioning nerve cells. The news absolutely devastated the family. The sheer volume of questions and considerations has been disorienting, if not overwhelming. The young couple is still trying to absorb the information and have more questions than answers.
Recognizing that they would never ask for help, yet desperately need it, friends developed a Go Fund Me campaign asking not only for prayers for wisdom and healing, and emotional support, but also significant financial help to find the right physicians, live near a cancer treatment hospital, and pay for family travel over the next 18 months of treatment.
Other friends like Lori Costanza stepped up as well, hosting the September 18th benefit with a silent auction, raffles, a buffet and a packed house. Lori says, on Facebook, “Wow! What an amazing turnout we had! Family, friends and our community did not disappoint. Our expectations were exceeded and we had a very full house for 3 straight hours. Justin and Lindsey were able to be there with Maci and I am so glad they were able to see just how many people showed up to support them, many of them they probably didn’t even know.”
There is also a public-facing Facebook group page about Maci Rae’s journey that you can follow at this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2187758291352749/
Another friend has posted this message there:
“While the Fire & Ice benefit proved to be successful, it won’t carry the financial burdens for long. As we move into the holiday season we would like to secure financial stability for the Rosen family so they can put their energy into Maci’s treatment and care. Maci’s medical treatment is becoming more intense and aggressive. The treatment plan will become even more aggressive when she heads to Motts Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor this winter.”
That friend points out that at Fire & Ice fully $3,600 came in loose change from a donation jar, which was then doubled by an anonymous donor, and a second donor kicked in $1,000 as a match. She’s hopeful somebody will be willing to replicate that at this weekend’s fundraiser in Hartford.
The Maci Rae Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser this weekend is on Sunday, October 6th at the Hartford High School Cafeteria from 1 to 4pm. Lindsey was a 2009 graduate of Hartford High. A 50/50 raffle, bake sale and silent auction are all included in this event. Tickets are available at the door for $6 for adults and $3 for children.
Whether you can make it or not to the Hartford fundraiser, you can take a look at the Go Fund Me campaign and add to the cause by clicking the link below to help make a difference for a tiny child and her family who face a formidable future.
