Salvo’s to host ‘Team Mady’ Fundraiser

By Beth Anne Rekowski

A fundraiser for Mady Odegard will be held Saturday, Oct. 22 at Salvo’s Pizzeria in Merrill, from 4-10 p.m.

8 Year old Mady Odegard was diagnosed with stage 4 Kidney Cancer in June of 2014. After months of chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Mady underwent surgery in October of 2014, to remove the tumor as well as her kidney. Soon afterward, it was discovered the cancer had metastasized to Mady’s lungs, triggering another bout of chemotherapy and radiation treatments to her lungs and her remaining kidney.

On April 20, 2015, Mady completed the treatments. Two weeks later, doctors discovered the ‘cancer beast’ had returned once again and the following July, Mady underwent a stem cell transplant with hopes of wiping the cancer cells out once and for all. Despite the long battle, Mady and her family had already fought, they persevered through a long recovery process following the transplant.

This past June, Mady was the event honoree at the Remembering Kyle Memorial Scholarship ~ Night of Music & Sounds, as well as being the opening performer, playing three piano songs.

Then in early August, Mady was honored at the Relay for Life event. A few days later, doctors discovered another tumor in the same kidney area, but now deeper into her pelvis.

Mady was soon back in surgery to have that tumor removed. Following her last procedure, Mady was scheduled to have another six months of chemo, depending on the scan results, every six weeks.

“Mady is losing her hair in clumps once again, which saddened her” Flori Jesperson explains, Mady’s grandmother.

“Mady sees her hair as her best feature. Mady is a sweet, beautiful little eight-year old who like all cancer-kids, knows nothing but the world of cancer. It has been her life for over two years, now.”

Stop by Salvo’s anytime after 4 p.m on Saturday to have a look at all the amazing baskets that are up for raffle so far, with more baskets being added every day. You can buy your raffle tickets from now until Saturday. That’s a great option for those of you who can’t make it on the day of the event.
A sampling of the prizes are Milwaukee Bucks tickets, Timber Rattlers baseball box seats and miscellaneous memorabilia, Paul Jesperson’s autographed basketball, Malcom Brogdan autographed basketball, Packers and Badgers items, Metropolis Water Park package, Bill Pittman original wildlife painting, Garett Shippman limited edition wildlife print, golf package, prime rib dinner cruises and sightseeing cruises, recliner, Dr. DRE Beats headphones, 32” LED TV, photo session, endless themed gift baskets for men and women and for all ages of boys and girls. There is also a wide variety of gift certificates from many of our local businesses and restaurants, and so so much more!

If you want to get in on the winnings, there will be deck-o-card raffles and traditional raffles, with a few denominations of raffle ticket prices. Ticket prices will be $1, 6/$5, $5 and $10. Raffle ticket sales will end at 9 p.m., when the winning tickets will be drawn and announced at the fundraiser. Winners need not be present. However, everyone must make sure to put their names and contact info on the submitted halves of either their cards or their raffle tickets.
Music will be provided throughout the afternoon and evening, and timeshared by Bob Odegard (Mady’s Grandpa), Winchester (Paul Waid & Andy Ament), Mark Robl, Karen Heldt, Paula Laabs, Jim Doyle, Jamie Zuelsdorff, Brady Geiss and Michael Rekowski.
So, c’mon out to share in the fun, while helping little Mady and her family. The Merrill community, along with others in neighboring communities, have taken little Mady under their wings via this fundraiser!

All the support allows Mady’s family to focus on Mady and her recovery from all the difficult chemo treatments, which will also ultimately help Mady beat that cancer beast.. once and for all!
Contact me, Beth Anne Rekowski, at 715-921-2018, for raffle basket donations and Missy Waid, at 715-218-0883, for bake sale donations.

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