Group organizes benefits for Scott City girl fighting leukemia

Family and friends of a Scott City girl who turns 3 on Tuesday have come together to organize a pair of benefits to offset her medical expenses.

Katelyn Dannenmueller is receiving treatment at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She has been there since Oct. 19.

According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the disease is a type of blood cancer, and is the most common type of leukemia in children younger than 15. With treatment, many children with this type of leukemia can be cured.

Katelyn's family and friends are lending a hand by creating an organization called "Katelyn's Krusaders" and have organized two benefits. The first is from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Culver's in Cape Girardeau, where 10 percent of the proceeds will be donated to Katelyn and her family. The Krusaders will also be accepting donations for Katelyn's Krusader T-shirts and pink bracelets.

A second benefit is at 5 p.m. Jan. 24 at St. Denis Parish in Benton, Mo. Dinner will be at 6:30 p.m. A dance and silent auction are also planned. For more information or tickets, call Jessica at 382-2812 or Shirley Essner at 573-318-0599.

Katelyn is the daughter of Ryan and Pam Essner Dannenmueller of Scott City and granddaughter of Stan and Shirley Essner of Benton, Donna and Tim Joplin of Cape Girardeau, and Cletus and Tina Dannenmueller of Scott City.

cpagano@semissourian.com

388-3648