Benefit to help Hasslers with expenses
PRINCETON — Friends and family of LeeAnn Hassler of Princeton and her 5-year-old son, Adam, are planning a June 27 benefit to help with the medical expenses of the mother and son.
Hassler and her son have been diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome, a rare congenital heart condition. They both had heart defibrillators implanted. LeeAnn was also recently diagnosed with a second heart condition, Ventricular Tachycardia, after she was shocked 16 times by her defibrillator. Adam is also believed to have Ventricular Tachycardia, having been shocked 10 times by his defibrillator in one incident.
Both Long QT Syndrome and Ventricular Tachycardia are life-threatening conditions, according to family friend Jenny Koser. LeeAnn will need to go to Mayo Clinic in Minnesota for heart surgery for the Ventricular Tachycardia condition. Adam will no doubt also have to follow, she said.
Koser and Angela Jacobs are organizing the June 27 benefit, which will be an all-day event, from 9 a.m to 11 p.m. at the Green River Country Club in rural Walnut.
"Together, with your help, we can make a difference in the lives of LeeAnn and Adam by coming together as a community," Koser said. "They have incurred enormous medical bills. They have been in and out of hospitals. This benefit is something we can do to help raise some money to help with their expenses."
The benefit will start with a golf scramble with a 9 a.m. shotgun start, a buffet meal from 5 to 7 p.m., an auction at 7 p.m., and music by a DJ from 8 to 11 p.m.
The cost for the buffet meal, auction and music is $25 person or $35 per couple.
The entry fee for the golf scramble is $50 per person, or $200 for the four-person team. The fee includes golf, cart rental, the meal, auction and music.
Cash prizes for the golf scramble are $300 to the first-place team; $200 for second place; $100 for third place.
For more information or to sign up for the golf scramble, contact Koser at (815) 379-9381 or Jacobs at (815)716-3360.
LeeAnn is married to Darren Hassler and the mother of four sons, ages 12 to 4. She is the daughter of Bob and Sharon Wrolson of Walnut.
The Wrolsons became active in heart awareness education about 10 years ago after their daughter, Sandy Loftus, had a cardiac arrest in May 1999, just before her 21st birthday. After Loftus’ cardiac arrest, she was diagnosis with the Long QT Syndrome. Since that time, several family members, including Loftus’ son, plus LeeAnn and Adam, have been diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome.
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