MONTEZUMA - It was a good time for a good cause.
Moved by the plight of a young man in need of a lung transplant, a steady stream of people came to the Montezuma V.F.W. hall Saturday, where friends and family had organized a benefit to help defray medical expenses for Jim Smith, 34.
In August, Smith suddenly found himself unable to breathe. He was rushed to Rochester's Strong Memorial Hospital. Not one but both of his lungs were affected.
A biopsy at the hospital didn't determine the cause. With one lung worse than the other, Smith learned he might need a transplant.
Peg Treat, a relative, said he was told the worst case scenario.
“People have died waiting,” she said. “Twenty percent reject the transplants, and 80 percent who do survive die within five years.”
Smith flew to a clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, for further evaluation but does not know what attacked his lungs, family friend Winnie Delmar said. That hospital was chosen to make it easier to get on a transplant list.
Although Smith worked as a mechanic for Chris Recckio in Port Byron for nine years, doctors have ruled out chemicals as the cause of his condition. He also never smoked or drank.
He will return to Cleveland on Monday, where he will stay six weeks for further evaluation, since his disease remains undiagnosed. A one-way ticket costs $3,500 because he has to be flown in by helicopter.
Between 1 and 2 p.m. Saturday, Noah Adler, 14, and his sister, Kaylee, 17, collected $10 donations from and distributed tickets to more than 100 people at the door, with more guests still coming.
Emcee Art Wenzel kept the party moving with raffles and door prizes, including a 50/50 drawing and an auction.
Raffle tickets at 25 for $20 were deposited in small bags set in front of items desired to be drawn later in the afternoon.
Robin (Casey) Munn stole the show with her musical impersonations. She donned in-line skates and a helmet to impersonate Melanie singing “Brand New Key.”
Munn, who had sung with Spellbound for about a year, said this was her first time entertaining at a benefit.She also impersonated Tina Turner, Pink, Gwen Stefani and Gloria Gaynor.
Jake Lauckern sang favorites, such as “I Hope You Had the Time of Your Life,” and “Yesterday.” Heather Lardeo also performed.
Wenzel auctioned off two 7-night stays at the Reef Club in Cozumel, donated by Tom and Carol Snook, of Waterloo, a Thousand-Island sightseeing cruise and overnight stay at Bonnie Castle, a 42-inch SONY Flatscreen high definition TV, a Wii with 14 Excite games, an Oneida Lake fishing trip for three, and autographed sports memorabilia.
An all-volunteer kitchen - chef Joe Adler, with helpers Jackie smith, and Sharon Church - doled out the ziti dinner, salad and beverages.
Smith made a brief appearance at the party - with an oxygen tank at his side - in appreciation of those who organized it and those who came.
His whole family, including his father, Jim Smith Sr., who drove up from Cumberland, Md., attended the event.
His grandmother, Margaret Ward, his mom, Jane Denman, his sister, Theresa Smith, and a number of other relatives were also there to lend their support.
While organizers didn't set a specific goal, any money that they made would help. Wenzel said it would be nice to put $10,000 in the bank for Smith toward his expenses.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
In August, Smith suddenly found himself unable to breathe. He was rushed to Rochester's Strong Memorial Hospital. Not one but both of his lungs were affected.
A biopsy at the hospital didn't determine the cause. With one lung worse than the other, Smith learned he might need a transplant.
Peg Treat, a relative, said he was told the worst case scenario.
“People have died waiting,” she said. “Twenty percent reject the transplants, and 80 percent who do survive die within five years.”
Smith flew to a clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, for further evaluation but does not know what attacked his lungs, family friend Winnie Delmar said. That hospital was chosen to make it easier to get on a transplant list.
Although Smith worked as a mechanic for Chris Recckio in Port Byron for nine years, doctors have ruled out chemicals as the cause of his condition. He also never smoked or drank.
He will return to Cleveland on Monday, where he will stay six weeks for further evaluation, since his disease remains undiagnosed. A one-way ticket costs $3,500 because he has to be flown in by helicopter.
Between 1 and 2 p.m. Saturday, Noah Adler, 14, and his sister, Kaylee, 17, collected $10 donations from and distributed tickets to more than 100 people at the door, with more guests still coming.
Emcee Art Wenzel kept the party moving with raffles and door prizes, including a 50/50 drawing and an auction.
Raffle tickets at 25 for $20 were deposited in small bags set in front of items desired to be drawn later in the afternoon.
Robin (Casey) Munn stole the show with her musical impersonations. She donned in-line skates and a helmet to impersonate Melanie singing “Brand New Key.”
Munn, who had sung with Spellbound for about a year, said this was her first time entertaining at a benefit.She also impersonated Tina Turner, Pink, Gwen Stefani and Gloria Gaynor.
Jake Lauckern sang favorites, such as “I Hope You Had the Time of Your Life,” and “Yesterday.” Heather Lardeo also performed.
Wenzel auctioned off two 7-night stays at the Reef Club in Cozumel, donated by Tom and Carol Snook, of Waterloo, a Thousand-Island sightseeing cruise and overnight stay at Bonnie Castle, a 42-inch SONY Flatscreen high definition TV, a Wii with 14 Excite games, an Oneida Lake fishing trip for three, and autographed sports memorabilia.
An all-volunteer kitchen - chef Joe Adler, with helpers Jackie smith, and Sharon Church - doled out the ziti dinner, salad and beverages.
Smith made a brief appearance at the party - with an oxygen tank at his side - in appreciation of those who organized it and those who came.
His whole family, including his father, Jim Smith Sr., who drove up from Cumberland, Md., attended the event.
His grandmother, Margaret Ward, his mom, Jane Denman, his sister, Theresa Smith, and a number of other relatives were also there to lend their support.
While organizers didn't set a specific goal, any money that they made would help. Wenzel said it would be nice to put $10,000 in the bank for Smith toward his expenses.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
