A fundraiser will be held this weekend in Mokane to benefit a community member undergoing cancer treatment.
Mesha Carter, who is a Callaway County resident originally from Centralia, was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer which has mastisized to her liver. Tommy Carter, Mesha's husband, has been taking care of her and their three children during this process.
Mesha had surgery in July to remove two large tumors from her liver. This operation caused an infection and another stay at the hospital. She began chemotherapy treatments again at the end of August.
To help support Mesha and her family with her chemotherapy, surgeries and hospital stays, Callaway County residents are hosting a benefit to help support the Carter family.
The fundraiser will take place Saturday at AMVET Post 153 in Mokane.
Events will kick off at noon. Pulled pork meals will be available for purchase starting at noon.
A silent auction will also take place. More than 30 items will be available to bid on.
Bingo play will begin at 1:30 p.m. A book of 10 bingo games will be available for $10, with each additional book costing $5. Bingo winners will receive gift cards or gift baskets.
In addition to the bingo games, cornhole will be offered for kids. Cornhole play will begin at 1 p.m. Each team costs $20, and trophies will be awarded.
All proceeds raised from the event will go to Mesha and her family.
Ericka Sale is one of the organizers of the fundraiser. She is a good friend of Mesha's, which prompted her to put together the event to benefit them.
Sale is hoping to see a turnout of around 150 people or more. She said if the turnout and community feedback are good, she is open to doing another fundraiser for Mesha.
Sale said all of the supplies for the bingo fundraiser were donated by businesses and people from Callaway County, including the meat for meals and silent auction items. She said the community has been amazing in its support for the fundraiser, and she is very appreciative.
Sale said bingo was chosen as the main event for the fundraiser because of the local love of bingo, as well as not many other events offering the game. She hopes it draws a big crowd to support Mesha.