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A benefit for Kaitlin

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Kaitlin received many beautiful hats from the Heavenly Hat Foundation. CARINGBRIDGE.ORG
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Cecilia Strong, general manager of the Holiday Inn of Fort Myers Beach and aunt of little seven-year-old cutie Kaitlin is holding a benefit at Pinchers within the Holiday Inn to help raise funds for the many bills and travel expenses that have built up during regular cancer treatments Kaitlin requires in Washington. The benefit will be held Saturday, March 21, from noon to 9 p.m. CARINGBRIDGE.ORG

Raising funds for a strong, seven-year-old cancer-fighting patient, Cecilia Strong and the Holiday Inn of Fort Myers Beach are holding a special benefit within the establishment Saturday, March 21, from noon to 9 p.m.

Cecilia, general manager of Pinchers Beach Bar and Grill in the Holiday Inn, is Kaitlin’s aunt, and hoping this benefit is able to help her niece’s mom with the many medical bills and travel expenses that have been adding up since the little one’s been receiving chemotherapy.

“This is her third time battling cancer Wilm’s Tumor that only affects children. She was diagnosed at the age of five,” Cecilia said. “They removed it by removing her kidney. The tumor was the size of a football. She went through radiation, and we thought she was cancer-free. We did a scan and it came back two months later.”

She said Kaitlin went through the strongest radiation they can give to kids, and the cancer returned in her lungs. Again, the infection disappeared, but popped back up only one month later.

Since this cancer has been so bad in little Kaitlin, she’s been going to a specialist in Washington, accepted for a special program for chemo and drugs, traveling back and forth with her mother every couple of weeks.

“My sister has insurance, but it’s not all covered, like the traveling expenses,” Cecilia said. “She’s already, like, $50,000 in the hole with all these extra expenses. Anything we can raise will go right to Kaitlin and these expenses.”

During the all-day fund-raiser, live music will hit the stage beginning at 1 p.m., with Tequila Tom and Symon as T/S Factor, from 1 to 4 p.m., and Deb and the Dynamics, from 6 to 9 p.m.

Raffles and prizes will be given and awarded all day from several local Beach hot spots who’ve graciously donated items and services.

“The Fort Myers Beach community has donated so many things the Sandbar, Leani’s, Tingles and Tans, Stevie Tomatoes, Around the Clock Fitness, Budweiser donations, stays at the Holiday Inn of Fort Myers Beach, bottles of wine and liquor, and so many others.”

There will also be a “Cancer Sucks Keg” at the benefit (Bud/Bud Light), where Cecilia said any time you buy a beer from that keg, all of that money go directly to her niece.

Raffle tickets are just $1 each or a stretched-out strand as far as you can stretch your arms out for $20. (Be sure to bring your super-tall friends with you to the benefit.)

Free cancer awareness bracelets will be given out to those who buy raffle tickets and/or donate during the benefits, and $5-off coupons and coozies will be handed out throughout the day, along with other fun giveaways.

Hopefully, Cecilia said Kaitlin will be at the benefit, as long as everything’s going well for her and she doesn’t have to head back to Washington unexpectedly.

Be sure to check out her web page on CaringBridge.org and search under “KaitlinCardin.”

If interested in donating funds or gifts for the benefit or raffle item prizes, or for any other information you may need for the fund-raiser, call Cecilia at the Holiday Inn, 463-5711 Ext. 176.