Smith Family Benefit is Sunday

Over the past several weeks, the Menomonee Falls community has rallied in a big way to help a family in need, and Sunday there will be another chance to help Dylan Smith.

Dylan is a seventh-grader at who has Duchennes Muscular Dystrophy, which is a degenerative muscle disorder. He’s outgrown his current wheelchair, but a new chair costs roughly $10,000. The Smiths also have other expenses to remodel their home to accommodate Dylan and augment their van. It has put some financial strain on the Smiths.

When word spread throughout community regarding the Smith’s situation, there wasn’t a shortage of help.  The MFHS Student Council is sponsoring a benefit for the Smiths from 1-4 p.m. Sunday at the Quilted Bear in Germantown. There’s still time to get your tickets.

The Smith family is hoping to purchase a Viking power wheelchair to give Dylan more independence and mobility. Right now, his wheelchair gets stuck when it snows more than two inches. His new wheelchair features the power and traction to stay mobile in adverse conditions.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door, and $7 in advance and $10 at the door for students. You can also email your reservations to esmith1680@wi.rr.com. The benefit includes a large silent auction, raffles, appetizers and entertainment. Suzy Sparkles will be face painting and Peter John Lindsay from Half Twisted-Half Knot will donate his time to do some balloon twisting and comedy. The Menomonee Falls Quintet will be performing too.

In January, students in Ryan Anderson’s combined an anti-bullying message with a t-shirt sale to help raise funds for Dylan’s wheelchair replacement.

Anderson’s class set a goal of selling 100 t-shirts with the message, “Stand Up For What’s Right Even If You’re Standing Alone.” However, since word of the sale got out, Anderson said they have more than 500 orders and will raise roughly $3,300.

The North Middle School student council had a "Crush Soda Sale" campaign and raised another $800. Even more, the school sponsored a "Dance 4 Dylan" event that raised another $625.

All told, North student organizations raised roughly $5,000 for their fellow student.

Teachers from schools in Milwaukee, Greendale, Racine, Kenosha, and Glendale are all offering to sell t-shirts in their schools.

If you are unable to attend the benefit Sunday, the Smiths are also encouraging donations. Checks can be sent to any M&I Bank and issued to “The Smith Family Benefit Fund.” Online donations can also be made at the bottom of the family’s website.