Youngstown family hosts benefit and bike run to support mother's ovarian cancer battle

Kathy Reed was recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and her son, Steven Reed a local Navy Veteran, and daughter in-law, Michelle Reed, sprang into action flying her from Las Vegas, Nev., to the Cleveland Clinic days after her diagnosis for immediate care.

Reed's family says they are determined to do whatever it takes to support her through treatment, which has already resulted in more than $1.5 million in medical bills. 

"We're doing everything we can to save her life. She stood by her soon for 10 deployments and 39 countries. Now he is standing by her through all of this no matter how hard it gets," her daughter in law Michele Reed said.

To help ease the financial burden and show support, the family is hosting a benefit fundraiser and bike run, with all proceeds going directly toward Reed's medical expenses. The event features a spaghetti dinner, basket raffles, auctions and more. 

The benefit will be held Saturday, June 14 at Yeagerbaums Bar & Grille is located at 7651 Brockway Sharon Rd in Orangeville. Sign ups for the bike run will start at 10 a.m. The spaghetti dinner begins at 5p.m. and raffle winners will be announced a 6:30 p.m. attendees do not need to be present to win. 

Bikers are $30-dollars, passengers are $10, and the food is $15.

The family has gone above and beyond to make the event memorable, collecting over $5,000 in basket raffle merchandise and collecting more than $1,300 in gift cards from local businesses and restaurants 

Among the standout items are Pittsburgh Pirates tickets and a signed lithograph from Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward sent by the team in support of Kathy Reed.

Donations are also being accepted through a GoFundMe campaign: Support Kathy Reed's Ovarian Cancer Battle, which has already garnered support from friends, neighbors and strangers alike. 

"We want to give her a fighting chance," Reed said. "She is our everything."

The family says they are overwhelmed by the generosity of others and hope the fundraiser will not only raise funds, but also raise hope.