Organizers have announced details for a BBQ fundraiser that will be held Saturday, Oct. 3 to benefit Mike Henninger–a Hellertown native and father of a nine-year-old who’s currently awaiting a heart transplant at the University of Pennsylvania hospital in Philadelphia.
There is a Facebook event page for the fundraiser and as of Tuesday afternoon 45 people had already committed to attend, with 500 invited.
Hellertown native and Saucon Valley graduate Mike Henninger (pictured with his wife, Marnie, and daughter Bella) is currently on a heart transplant waiting list due to genetic cardiomyopathy. Friends are fundraising on behalf of the Henninger family to help pay for costs related to the transplant that won’t be covered by insurance.
Henninger, 39, suffers from genetic cardiomyopathy, which has caused progressive weakening of his heart over the past decade in spite of numerous procedures and the use of pacemakers.
Friends of Henninger and his wife, Marnie, have organized to fundraise on their behalf under the name “Team Mike,” and will have a booth under the HelpHOPELive banner at Hellertown-Lower Saucon Community Day Aug. 22.
The “Fundraiser for Friends” by Smokin’ Outlaw BBQ of Hellertown will be held at Silver Creek Athletic Association in Springtown.
Some highlights of the BBQ fundraiser–which will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. and is expected to draw several hundred people–will be:
- A horseshoe tournament with a first place prize of $250
- An all-you-can-eat BBQ buffet from 2 to 3:30 p.m. featuring wood-smoked pulled pork, baked beans, cole slaw, Outlaw pasta salad, homemade garlic/dill and habanero/jalapeno pickles, hot dogs, chips and pretzels, light desserts, draft beer, soda, water and coffee
- Music by Laser DJ Company (all day), Paulie Knakk (2 to 4 p.m.) and Still Kick’n (4 to 7 p.m.)
- Free beer samples from Lost Tavern Brewing
- Children’s activities and face-painting
- A Chinese auction and 50/50 raffles
- BYOB
All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Henningers, to help cover the cost of Mike’s post-op transplant medications and transportation expenses, and to help them recoup lost income.
Tickets are $30 per person; $15 for kids ages 7-15; and free for children 6 and under.
They can be purchased online at www.sobmerchandtix.com or by texting/calling Eric Neith from Smokin’ Outlaw BBQ at 484-239-9130.
Donors and sponsors for the event are also being sought.
According to a sponsorship letter from Neith:
A $100 sponsorship will get your business name and logo on our large event banner. A $50 sponsorship will get your business name printed on our large event banner. Your sponsorship donations will be used towards our event costs to cover rental, food and beverage cost and supplies. If we can get all costs covered, 100% of the event ticket price can go to Mike and anything over our costs will go to them as well. Your sponsorship will enable our event to be fully funded and will give your business publicity as well. Your support of this fundraiser would be greatly appreciated. We thank you for your kind consideration.
Anyone interested in making a donation for the event should contact Neith at the number above or at sm*************@gm***.com.