Family Fun Day to Help Raise Money for Girl With Brain Disease

The Frankfort Area Jaycees are sponsoring a family fun day this weekend to help raise money for an 11-year-old Hilda Walker Intermediate School sixth-grader who has been in a coma-like state since March.

Raising it for Rachel will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, at the pavilion at Union Creek Community Park, which is behind Hilda Walker School. Food, games, raffles, music and other activities will be part of the fundraiser for Rachel Swallow, a Mokena girl who was diagnosed with a brain disease known as acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and has been comatose since March 26.

Rachel has undergone numerous medical procedures and surgeries to treat the inflammatory lesions on her brain, and she will need more medical care and in-house nursing to make a full recovery, according to a website set up to raise money for Rachel. Along with this fun day, organizers also are putting together a larger benefit in November at 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park.

People who can't make either event but want to help Rachel and her family can donate at the For the Love of Rachel website.

Raising it for Rachel

When: 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7
Where: The pavilion at Union Creek Community Park
Cost: Free

For the Love of Rachel Benefit

When: 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11
Where: 115 Bourbon Street, 3359 W. 115th St., Merrionette Park
Cost: $25 in advance, $30 at the door.

Go to the For the Love of Rachel website and Facebook page for more information.

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