Two school communities step up to help family of 4-year-old with leukemia

Divine Savior Catholic School in Fredonia is hosting a fundraiser starting at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, to benefit the family of Cole Janke.

Last September, Cole, 4, was diagnosed with acute lymphobastic leukemia and spent a week at Children’s Hospital in Wauwatosa.

Treatment is continuing and requires trips to Children’s and the MACC Fund Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.

Cole is the son of Rose Janke, an English teacher at Cedar Grove-Belgium High School for the past 14 years. The family lives in Fredonia, where Cole attends Divine Savior Catholic.

Both schools’ staffs are helping to organize the fundraiser to help offset travel costs and treatments not covered by insurance.

The event includes a DJ, live music by Just 2 Dudes, Scott Tipple and Craig DeRuyter, a brat fry and bake sale, hourly raffles, games and a dessert auction.

A kids’ zone for $10 includes a Mary Macaroni balloon art and show from 5:30 to 6 p.m., other activities and prizes.

A live auction starts at 8 p.m.

To donate, make checks to The Cole M. Janke Benefit Fund and mail them to Oostburg State Bank, 10 Phoenix Ave., Cedar Grove, WI, 53013, or send donations online to Venmo@Landa-Paradise and add “Cole Janke Donation” to the “what is it for” line.