Melanoma fundraiser Saturday night in Arlington Hts.
A fundraiser to fight melanoma is being held at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at Murphy’s of Arlington Heights, 1609 W. Campbell St.
The fundraiser was organized by Tracie Wilcox of Schaumburg, whose husband of more than 13 years, Eric Wilcox, has been fighting melanoma since March 2010. She started Willie’s Defensive Line, a nonprofit organization focused on bringing more treatment options to the Chicago area, and raising money for education and research.
This is the organization’s first major fundraiser and everyone is welcome. All profits will be donated to Skin of Steel in Glenview, which is focused on raising awareness of and increasing research on melanoma in Chicago, where one in five people will develop skin cancer.
Eric Wilcox, who has three children, was diagnosed with Stage IV melanoma in 2012, when the disease spread to his liver. In January, the family learned the melanoma had spread to about 20 areas of his brain, his wife said.
Murphy’s is offering free pizza and salad from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. There will be live entertainment, raffles, silent auctions and a guest speaker at 7 p.m. Raffle and silent auction items include sporting event tickets, Marriott Lincolnshire tickets, restaurant gift certificates, Chicago Bears items, wine and liquor baskets, and an autographed guitar.
More information on Skin of Steel is at www.skinofsteel.org. Donations in Eric Wilcox’s name can be made at the website.