COVINGTON, Ind. —
The Covington Swim Club plans a fundraiser benefit Saturday morning for one of its young swimmers who is battling cancer.
Eleven-year-old Lexi Dixon of Covington was diagnosed with liver cancer in May.
“It’s been very recent and very aggressive,” Kelli Pinkerton, founder of the Covington Swim Club, said of Lexi’s diagnosis and disease.
“Her mom has been off work the entire time to be with her,” she added.
The swim club, which boasts a membership of 70 youngsters, will have the benefit during its swim meet from 9:30 a.m. to noon EDT Saturday, at the Covington City Pool, 1329 Second St.
Pinkerton said Lexi’s family — parents Bruce and Jackie Dixon, older sister Kali and twin brother Logan — are involved in the community and are known by many.
“The Dixon children were always in swim club,” she said.
A 50/50 drawing is usually held at every swim meet to help raise money for the swim club, but this Saturday the club is going to give the proceeds from the drawing to the Dixon family.
Besides the drawing, the benefit also will feature a silent auction “with lots of donations from the community,” Pinkerton said.
Some of the items available for bidding include NASCAR memorabilia, Mary Kay cosmetics and a Thirty-One handbag.
“Lots of area businesses also have donated gift cards,” she said.
The silent auction will be conducted at the same time as the swim meet, with the winners being announced at the end of the meet, Pinkerton said.
A concession stand will be open and selling snow cones and cotton candy, as well as a bounce house to keep children entertained. The club’s lifeguard also will wear a bear costume.
Miss Illini Queen Ashley Paddock of Covington and Brittany Brown of Attica, Ind., the winner of Nakota’s Natural Beauty contest, will invite benefit participants to jot down well wishes for Lexi on note cards.
“We hope to collect hundreds (of well wishes),” Pinkerton said.
“It’s a small community and everyone joins in to help each other out,” she said.
Covington resident Amy Wright, whose son played soccer with Lexi, has started a Facebook page for Lexi and her family called Hugs and Prayers for Lexi.
“It’s been quite a time for them,” Wright said, adding that she decided to start the Facebook page because “we were getting so many inquiries” about Lexi.
“She and her mom look at (the Facebook page) every single day.”
Wright said Lexi’s mom, Jackie, has been a constant presence alongside Lexi at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis.
Wright’s own son, Colton, who is a year older than Lexi, recently had a bake sale and raised $400 for the Dixon family.
Wright said one man gave her son a $100 bill.
“I’ve been amazed at the support she’s received,” she said.
Wright said she will still collect donations for the silent auction up until Saturday morning at her business, Already Approved by Amy at 995 13th St., Covington.
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