Irish tenor's concert Monday to benefit Arlington Hts. family

Mark Beuligmann had been feeling tired and having pains in his side. Then one morning on the way to work he couldn't breathe.

He drove himself to the hospital, where doctors discovered his lung had collapsed. He spent eight days in intensive care dealing with infections.

"We didn't know whether he was going to make it," said his wife, Vicki.

Mark later had liver and spleen issues, as well as arthritis so bad "he couldn't put his own socks on," Vicki said.

Doctors never figured out what was wrong with Mark, thinking the original issues were caused by an infectious disease that went undiagnosed.

Two years later, Mark's health is better, but his family is still struggling to get its finances back on track after losing jobs and their Arlington Heights home.

On Monday night, the family will get a little help from the community and world-renowned Irish tenor Anthony Kearns.

Kearns will sing at 7 p.m. at Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., in Arlington Heights, in a benefit concert for the Beuligmann family.

"His heart is as big as his voice, and his voice is incredible," Vicki said.

Tickets are $50 and on sale at Metropolis or at Peggy Kinnane's Irish Restaurant & Pub, which is sponsoring the event.

"We were awe-struck," Vicki said when she heard about the fundraiser. "This is answering a prayer for us."

Peggy Kinnane's also will be offering discounted food and drinks on Monday night with ticket purchases.

Vicki met Kearns while organizing two fundraisers at Christian Liberty Academy in Arlington Heights where she works, but on Monday her family will be at the receiving end of the community's charity.

"We have been on the side of being able to help other people, and this was one time we really had to humble ourselves and be helped by other people," she said.