Sunday benefit at South Side Boat Club to benefit 5-year-old boy with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

QUINCY — A benefit organized by friends and family of 5-year old Axel Hickey will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21, at South Side Boat Club. Axel recently was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Axel fell ill at school during the first week in November and was sent home with a fever. After seeing no improvement in his health after a couple of days, Axel’s mother took him to ambulatory care. Lab results indicated he may have leukemia/lymphoma, and the family was advised to go to the emergency room. Lab work indicated the same diagnosis. He was then flown to St. Louis Children’s Hospital, where they received a definite diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Axel has returned home after a month-long hospital stay but must travel to St. Louis weekly for aggressive chemotherapy treatment.

The benefit will offer a meal, with a free-will donation being taken. Other activities will be a bake sale, 50/50 raffle, TV raffle and live and silent auctions. Music for the day will be provided by a DJ. Shirts. Keychains, bracelets and pens will be available for purchase.

For information on how to donate, contact committee members:

• Brittney Welch 217-577-8188
• Nicole Hesse 217-617-3434
• Amanda Cannon 217-222-7217
• Terri Clayton 217-653-8363