Hooters wings to benefit cancer-stricken girl
Hooters girls, chicken wings and a charity fundraiser for an 8-year-old girl battling a rare form of cancer may seem an unlikely match.
But to Gary Jenson, the man organizing the "Wings for Rylie" event on Nov. 7 at the Lake in the Hills American Legion Post 1231, it makes perfect sense because the novelty is sure to draw a crowd. Jenson expects 200 people to chow down on the eatery's famous wings.
"I just thought it would be a very good attention getter," said Jenson, the legion's special projects coordinator. "I am doing this to try to help and get as many people out as possible and I thought this would do it."
Rylie Mogan lives in Hebron and is fighting desmoplastic small round cell tumor cancer, which attacks the soft tissue between her organs and the muscle wall of her abdomen. She was diagnosed in July.
Her father, Sgt. Mike Mogan, is a veteran Lake in the Hills police officer. He says Rylie is doing well after her fourth chemotherapy session last week; she has four more rounds to go.
"She's feeling good," Mogan said.
The Crystal Lake Hooters has agreed to supply two of its waitresses and a whole lot of chicken wings for the benefit dinner.
The legion, where Rylie's grandfather John White is a member, donated the hall for the event and will also host a silent auction, which will include gift certificates to the local Hooters. All of the proceeds from the Nov. 7 dinner will help the Mogan family pay off Rylie's medical bills.
"When someone in our neighborhood is in trouble or needs help, we do what we can," Hooters spokeswoman Allie Borden said.
The dinner runs from 5 to 9 p.m. at the legion post. Six-piece chicken wings meals go for $5, while 11-piece wing dinners cost $9.
If you can't attend but would still like to help Rylie, mail a check to: Lake in the Hills American Legion Post 1231, 1101 W. Algonquin Road, Lake in the Hills, IL 60156. Make the check out to the Lake in the Hills American Legion Post 1231 and write "Rylie Mogan" in the memo line.