LIMA — Thousands of dollars have already been raised for a local student with cancer, but supporters of this young man and his family are not done yet.
A benefit for Robert Thomas, a freshman at Lima Senior High School who is battling mature T-cell lymphoma, will be held from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday at VFW Post 1275, 124 E. Elm St. in Lima.
The “Runnin’ with Robert” benefit party will feature a live DJ, a 50/50 drawing, raffles, silent and live auctions, a bake sale and more. Food and non-alcoholic drinks will also be served free of charge, though there is a $5 admission fee and a cash bar.
All proceeds will be donated to the Thomas family to help pay for medical expenses and daily living costs the family is struggling to pay for as Robert’s mother is taking a leave of absence to be with her ailing son.
“This money is meant to give the family some hope and let them know that the community stands behind them,” said Calin Huggins, one of the event’s organizers. “We want to show that we care.”
In August, just days before he was set to begin his freshman year at Lima Senior, Thomas told his mother he was having trouble breathing, according to Huggins.
“His mom took him to the doctor, and they diagnosed him pretty much right then and there,” he said. “They sent him to Columbus, and that’s where he’s been pretty much ever since.”
Thomas did return to Lima in late January for a basketball game held in his honor. At the Lima Senior versus Toledo St. John’s boys basketball game on Jan. 22, students and staff at Lima Senior and Lima Central Catholic collected money for the Thomas family.
LCC raised $2,775 in donations during the game. The “Runnin with Robert” T-shirts and raffle tickets sold by Lima Senior students drew in another $2,000. Huggins said he expects Saturday’s benefit to raise an additional $2,000 or more.
Huggins, who coached Thomas when he played midget football, called the young man a “fighter” and said he is confident he will beat cancer.
“There are so many people thinking of him and praying for him and pushing for him to fight through this,” he said. “With the support of an entire community, I think he’s gonna be alright.”
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