Over 100 community members attended the benefit for Leanna Voelker to show their love and support as she battles cancer. The benefit was held at the Brookville American Legion on Saturday, Oct. 15, from 5 to 8 p.m. to help with Leanna's unexpected stress and expenses since being diagnosed in January. The benefit was a huge success. Ninety basket raffles, tip boards, auctions, food, and more were available to raise funds. Leanna explained insurance is a massive barrier to the treatment she currently needs in returning home.   

“It was a great night and exceeded our goal and expectations," said Ruth Rowlett. "It was just amazing the generosity of people. We couldn't be more blessed to live in this small town of Brookville."

The highlight of the evening was when a very special guest entered the doors of the American Legion, Leanna. Leanna, who has been hospitalized for roughly three weeks, received a five-hour pass from the hospital to attend her benefit. When she came in, the crowd erupted, and tears flowed.

"It was amazing driving here. It was wonderful," Voelker shared. "I was so shocked; it was really overwhelming. This community and my family and my friends, I know they have always been behind me, but this community is awesome. They come together at a time of need, and it's just overwhelming." 

The funds raised will help fill in cost gaps not covered by insurance and get Leanna home from the hospital. "The insurance has been the hold up for about a week now," Leanna explained. "Because they don't want  to pay for home health to come in, so I told them I would pay for it out of pocket.

Well, now they don't want to pay for the infusion, so this benefit will help.” Leanna continued as she began to cry, "This community just doesn't know what this means to me."

Leanna's battle began in December of 2021 when she was diagnosed with pneumonia, and the doctors found a small mass above her lymph node they attributed to pneumonia. Leanna was supposed to return to the doctor for a check-up after finishing her medicine for pneumonia. However, before she returned, she began coughing up blood and went to the ER. After a scan confirmed the mass was not related to pneumonia, Leanna was sent to Cincinnati for further testing. On Dec. 30, Leanna was diagnosed with Small Cell Lung Cancer. Beginning in February, Leanna completed four rounds of chemotherapy that ended in April, as well as 33 consecutive days of radiation. After Leanna finished chemotherapy, she still wasn't feeling very well. But in June, a scan was completed, and doctors shared her cancer was good. However, on July 10, Leanna went back to the ER, and after another scan, she was told her cancer had spread.

"It was in the adrenal glands, spine, left and right pelvis, left and right femur...it was pretty much everywhere," Leanna explained. "Now it has traveled to my pancreas, my liver, and in my spleen. Basically, it is just easier to say I don't have it in my brain, and I don't have it in my colon or my kidney."
Regardless of the diagnosis, Leanna has stayed positive and is anxious to return home and keep fighting.

"I am not giving up," Leanna said.