Benefit to assist Feeding Hills woman fighting cancer

Dec. 31, 2018 | Stephanie Trombley
stephanie@thereminder.com

Melanie (Lanie) Keeley
Reminder Publishing submitted photo

FEEDING HILLS – Facing a battle with cancer is terrifying and incredibly difficult. When 23-year old Melanie (Lanie) Keeley was diagnosed with cancer in August, her family ensured that she went into the battle with endless support on her side. In an effort to support their loved one, Keeley’s family will be hosting a benefit to support her cancer treatment on Feb. 9 at Club One Entertainment Complex in Feeding Hills.

Keeley is a 23 year-old mother from the Sixteen Acres area of Springfield. She was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in August 2018. Immediately following her diagnosis, Keeley began receiving blood transfusions and extensive chemotherapy treatments at Mercy Medical Center’s Sister Caritas Cancer Center.

Initially, Keeley began feeling symptoms in December 2017, but was misdiagnosed with low iron. After more symptoms began to develop, doctors discovered that she had been suffering from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

After the diagnosis, Keeley’s aunt Rose Lee began the process of running a fundraiser, called Love For Lanie, to help support her treatment. Keeley is no longer able to work, currently resides with her parents and is struggling to pay medical expenses all while raising her daughters, 3 year-old Ariana and 16 month-old Gianna. Amanda Parrott, Keeley’s cousin, shared, “Her daughters are the reason Lanie is so determined to beat this cancer.”

While Keeley has maintained a positive outlook throughout her treatment, her family wants to do all that they can to support her and raise her strength.

Parrott described the experience she and her family have had since beginning work on the Love For Lanie fundraiser. “Rose had asked me to co-host the event with her. We have had a great deal of support with this event, including the hall being donated from Club One and many raffle donations. We are so excited from all the outpouring of love and support we have received from the community so far. It means so much to our family,” she said.

Tickets for admission to the benefit are $20 each. Admission includes a buffet of food, a photo booth, music performed by a live DJ, raffles and a cash bar.

Parrott explained, “We will also have a live band playing in the bar in the next room over from the hall. We are opening up raffles to anyone who would like to participate. Anyone looking to purchase a ticket will receive a wrist band for food.”

All ticket and raffle proceeds will be donated toward medical expenses for Keeley and to her parents. Tickets will be available the night of the event on a first come, first serve basis. Tickets can be purchased in advance by contacting Parrott at Amanda.aqrs@gmail.com or by messaging the Love For Lanie Facebook event page, found by searching Love For Lanie.

Parrott said she hopes to see a large turnout and great support from the community on behalf of Keeley. “I would recommend that the community come to our Love For Lanie benefit just to help out a good cause. With all of the negativity in the world, I just love to see communities coming together in times of need. It’s sure to be a great time! Tons of love and laughs, it’s sure to be a night to remember,” she shared.

Keeley’s family said they are hoping to help in her fight to recovery, so that she may recognize her dreams for the future. Parrott shared, “After her fight with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is over, Lanie plans to return to college to further her education and start a career in the medical field, where she will give back, helping others.”

The Love For Lanie Benefit has received an outpouring of support from local businesses that have donated raffle prizes. Dino’s Pizza Restaurant, Beauty Times, Frontera Grill, Graziano Gardens, Calabrese Market, Sonny’s Place, Hooters, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Acapulco’s Mexican Family Restaurant & Cantina, Century Fitness, Greg’s Driveway, Purele, Brush Salon, Pisst Fish, Kim’s Nail Salon, Christopher’s Tavern and Richard’s Grinders are among some of the businesses that have donated to support Keeley.

The Love For Lanie benefit event will be hosted Feb. 9 at Club One in Feeding Hills from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Guests are encouraged to wear purple to the benefit to match Keeley’s ribbons and show additional support for the fight against Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

To donate a prize to the benefit’s raffle or for a monetary donation, please call Parrott at 231-4599 or Lee at 426-7787.

As Parrott stated, “A cancer diagnosis may set us back, but we won’t let it bring us down.”

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