by Mark Lauer – news@thenewsleaders.com
On Saturday, April 13 a fundraising dinner will be held from 3-8 p.m. at the El Paso Sports Bar and Grill for a young St. Joseph woman who was diagnosed with a form of bone cancer last fall.
Lindsey Johnson, 22, daughter of Gary and Mary Johnson of St. Joseph, is a senior at the College of St. Benedict. In October, Lindsey was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer that affects mainly children and adolescents. It’s one of a group of cancers known collectively as the Ewing sarcoma family of tumors and is the second most-common bone cancer in children. Although it can occur at any age, it very rarely occurs in adults over the age of 30.
At the time of her diagnosis, Johnson was scheduled to graduate from CSB in December 2012. But due to the length and intensity of her treatments, she was unable to graduate when she had planned. But since then, she has earned the needed credits to graduate from college, and she plans to take part in the spring commencement exercise in May with the rest of her CSB/SJU classmates.
Currently, Johnson is being treated at the University of Minnesota’s Amplatz Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis. She has completed nine rounds of chemotherapy, numerous radiation treatments and will also receive a stem-cell transplant.
Despite the months of painful and exhausting treatments, she has continued to show remarkable courage and strength. Her graduation plans only serve to underscore that point.
Johnson grew up in St. Joseph, attended St. Joseph Lab School and graduated from Cathedral High School in St. Cloud.
The purpose of Saturday’s event is to raise money and show support for Johnson and her family. The dinner will feature barbeque-style food: burgers, brats and other picnic fare. A cash raffle will be held, as well as a prize raffle. Tickets for the raffles can be purchased at the event. Cash donations and other prizes are accepted.
For more information, call 320-363-4219.
