There will be a fund raising dinner and auction Friday, July 31 at the Allerton Centennial Building at 5 p.m. on behalf of Kevin Andrews and his family.

Kevin grew up in Allerton and has been married to wife, Dennise for the past 12 years and has seven children; Curt, 22, Eric, 21, Jessica, 18, Bailey, 11, Cheyenne, 4, and Paige, 2.

Kevin graduated from Wayne Community High School in 1987. In 1991 Kevin received his B.S. in animal science at Northwest Missouri State. Kevin’s interests in life are farming, golfing and spending time camping with his family and friends. Dennise has been currently employed by Copy Plus/US Cellular for the past eight years.

Kevin was diagnosed with progressive MS in 2003. Currently, there is no effective treatment for MS. All they can do is attempt to slow the progression.

Kevin goes to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. for treatments every couple of months. In addition, he attends Cameron Regional Hospital in Cameron, Mo. for physical therapy using the Bioness Ness L300 Foot drop system. Without this form of therapy, it is often the case that MS patents are unable to lift their feet during the swing of walking and eventually drag their feet.

This is a brace system of sorts and will electrically stimulate the muscles in Kevin’s legs to provide an upward movement of the foot to prevent drag in walking.

The exciting part of this is that the Ness L300 Foot drop system is actually available to the Andrews family for purchase. This could be a life altering form of treatment!

It’s possible that with the Ness L300 system Kevin may again be able to enjoy some of the activities that he hasn’t been able to in several years, such as farming and golf.

Because it is not covered by Medicare insurance, the cost is approximately $13,000. We’re calling on friends and family of Kevin and Dennise Andrews to help make it possible to purchase this system.

Come join us on July 31 at 5 p.m. at the Allerton Centennial Building. There will be great food and an auction for a great cause.

For more information or to donate an auction item, please contact Mandi Goretska at (641) 344-7330 or Tracy Andres at (641) 344-0283 or Melanie Halferty at (641) 344-2195.

If you are unable to attend the benefit, but would like to give a monetary gift, please send it to Corydon State Bank, Kevin Andrews Benefit, 201 W. Jackson St., P.O. Box 228, Corydon, Iowa 50060.