Support has been pouring in since May in the form of prayers for Tom and Marie McNeill of Lake Township and their family.
The situation, frantic then, has become even more urgent in recent weeks.
Marie, 51, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in May, and underwent surgery at the Cleveland Clinic. While she was recovering from the operation, her 59-year-old husband, who is employed by VanDevere automobile dealership, suffered a stroke.
So while Marie is undergoing intense physical therapy, chemotherapy and radiation, Tom is immersed in speech and occupational therapy.
A benefit Scotch Doubles bowling tournament is planned to help the McNeills — members of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church — with mounting medical and living expenses. Organizers are hoping for a big turnout for this family of faith.
The McNeills have seven children who range in age from 28 to 14; two of their sons are Marines who served in Iraq.
The benefit is at 1 p.m. Sept. 22 at Turkeyfoot Lanes, 3911 S. Main St., Green, captained by Steve and Robin Kinty and Doug and Paula Baer. Steve Kinty and Doug Baer, Coventry High School classmates of Tom’s, are themselves cancer survivors.
The tournament is limited to 48 couples or 96 individuals. Interested in participating? The cost is $20 for bowling and food; $15 for food and festivities only. Raffles, silent auction and a cash bar are on the menu.
To donate auction items or food, please call Paula as soon as possible at 330-606-0541.
A Tom and Marie McNeill Benevolent Fund has been set up at PNC Bank (any branch).
Interested in following Marie’s progress? Please log on to www.caringbridge.org/visit/mariemcneill.
Wings of Charity
The HALO Foundation is hosting its “Wings of Charity” gala — honoring the Sept. 11 heroes of Flight 93 by assisting those in need — at 6 p.m. Sept. 7 at Guy’s Party Center, 500 E. Waterloo Road, Akron.
Dinner will be served at 7:30 p.m., and there are live and silent auctions.
HALO is an acronym for Hope Always Lives On.
John Skory and Dee Lowery are hosting, assisted by the 93 Cents for Flight 93 student leaders, with speakers Mark Jones, vice president of Jersey Central Power & Light, and Patricia Donaghue, director of the People’s Pantry in Toms River, N.J.
The HALO Foundation, in partnership with Deitrick & Associates, has been working with a heart for charity for years since the Sept. 11 tragedy. Those endeavors include:
• Hurricane relief after Katrina, Rita and most recently Sandy, filling semi-trucks for those in need.
• 93 Cents for Flight 93 Student LEADR Retreat, which encourages middle and high school students to become leaders, modeling the 40 heroes who perished aboard Flight 93.
• Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, Pa., partnering with schools to raise funds to build the memorial.
Tickets for the gala are $75, $65 until Aug. 31. Call 330-436-7120; email sharon@halofoundation.com or tiffany@halofoundation.com; or mail checks to 134 Western Ave., Akron, OH 44313.
Special celebration
That Jane Hamad really knows how to party. So does her family.
In fact, about 36 of them are getting together for a little bonding when they escort “Aunt Jane” to Las Vegas to celebrate her 90th birthday over the Labor Day holiday. This is what they did for her 80th birthday as well.
“Jane is still active and bowls [she has a 160 average], walks, plays bingo and likes to spend time with her family,” her niece, Camille Barbuto, shared.
“She had a knee replacement at 89 years old and didn’t have to use a walker. The nurse said she did better than some 30-year-old people recuperating from the same surgery.”
“We are also celebrating my nephew Kyle Hamad’s 21st birthday,” Barbuto continued. “He wanted to join in the fun since he will be of age for Las Vegas.
He is a mechanical engineering student at the University of Akron and one of the managers at Papa Joe’s restaurant.”
Jane, a lifetime Akron resident, owned Hamad’s bar on Main Street with her late husband, Harry Hamad.
Walk and fun day
Zane’s Foundation is sponsoring a Special Needs Awareness Walk and Fun Day 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 7 at Bolich Middle School’s Laybourne Field in Cuyahoga Falls.
The mission? To help families with special needs children by offering meetings to give parents educational tools, and providing grants for summer camps, respite, therapies or special equipment to help these children. To date 80 grants have been given to families in Northeast Ohio.
The event is being organized by Stacy Youssef, director of Zane’s Foundation.
Registration for the one-mile walk starts at 8 a.m. Vendors, games, raffle baskets, food by Retro Dog and family activities start at 9 a.m. There’s entertainment by the Cuyahoga Falls Dance Center (Precious Gems Creative Movement Class and Art Sparks Demonstration Class) and Kent State University’s cheer and dance teams. Guardians Advocating Child Safety and Protection (GASP) will offer fingerprinting of your child.
Sponsor T-shirts are $10 and up; to order or for more information, please email info@zanesfoundation.org or call 330-677-9263.
Classic car show
Frank Todaro of Todaro’s Party Center will be hosting his inaugural “La Macchina Molto Bella,” a classic car show, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sept. 22 at 1820 Akron-Peninsula Road, Akron. It’s free to view the cars and hear the music. Beverages and Italian food will be available for purchase and donations will be accepted for the Kidney Foundation of Summit County.
This party with a purpose is in memory of Frank’s father Camillo Todaro Sr., founder of the party center, who died in January following a long battle with kidney cancer.
The Kidney Foundation will conduct free blood-pressure screenings and educate the public about kidney disease.
Help Medina resident
Several of you inquired about how to donate to help Donal G. Evans, the 64-year Medina resident who is in need of a lung transplant. Evans — a nonsmoker — suffers from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Donations are accepted under the nonprofit name Healthy Life Changes at PNC Bank (any branch) or www.gofundme.com.
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.