Archive: Around Town

Carissa MosherWhen Lansing Rod & Gun Club members heard that Carissa Mosher is battling cancer, they wanted to help.  Carissa is a Southern Cayuga seven year old who is being treated for Rhabdoid-Sarcoma of the soft tissue.  Saturday club members are hosting a chicken barbecue at the Lansing Ballfields to help Carissa and her family.  It's a birthday gift: Carissa turns eight years old on Monday.

"It's a very fast spreading cancer," says Lansing Rod & Gun Club Treasurer Mary Orr.  "It started in her leg.  Her mother is a single mother with two other children.  She is really going through a very hard time.  Just the emotional part... she is with Carissa 100% of the time."

Carissa started chemotherapy at the end of December last year.  The treatment has taken a lot out of her, causing her to lose weight.  Her Web journal says she enjoys school and friends, and she has been attending school when she can.  The cancer is in her upper left thigh.  Recently an 11 year old with the same cancer lost his leg in an effort to save him.  Carissa is building up her health to the point where she can safely receive an MRI that will determine whether she can keep her own leg.

She came to the attention of the gun club, because her best friend is a member's daughter.  Pat Card told other members about her plight, and the idea of a benefit went before the board.  Orr says there has been an enthusiastic response and estimates that between 10 and 20 members will show up to volunteer at the barbecue.

The Rod & Gun CLub is no stranger to helping children.  They collect soda and beer cans to benefit the Children's Dream Factory and other children's' organizations.  Last year they turned in $2,800 worth of cans.  The tabs from the cans are saved to benefit kidney dialysis efforts.  The members also send razors, canned goods, and other supplies to American soldiers in Iraq.  They give to the American Cancer Society, the Turkey Federation, the Lansing Food Pantry, and funds a conservation scholarship for graduating high school students.

"We all have a good time when we put a barbecue on," she says.  "Last year we did it for scholarships.  It was February and it was very cold, but we managed.  But all of us have such a great time when we do this.  The spirit is there.  It's in your heart that you want to do this and you make it work."

More often than not if you've bought barbecued chicken in front of the Lansing Ballfields it's been made by Dave Hatfield.  Hatfield is a Lansing Rod & Gun Club member, and a two-time Baker Cup Chicken Barbecue Sauce contest winner at the Lansing Harbor Festival.  He has been barbecuing chicken for just about every local sports team and charitable organization imaginable since 2000.  While he does barbecues for hire, he still enjoys donating his time and grills to local organizations.  Rick Sill, also a Rod & Gun Club member, will be cooking potatoes and beans.

The barbecue is tomorrow morning (March 19) starting at 10am at the Lansing Ball Fields.  Orr says she is hoping Carissa will be able to come to the barbecue tomorrow morning.

"She was very sick, but she did manage to be able to attend an earlier benefit," Orr says.  "I've been told that if she is well enough she will try to stop by."

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