This Saturday two wrestling promotions and a group talented athletes will come together to help raise money for a little girl facing a very serious illness.
Gladiators of Wrestling and Zone Sports Athletics are teaming up to present a benefit wrestling show Saturday at the Elizabethton Boys and Girls Club. The proceeds from the show will go to help the family of local 3-year-old Lexi Ann Blevins.
“She’s 3 years old and was diagnosed with kidney cancer a little over a year ago,” said John Zullo of Zone Sports Athletics. “She’s had four surgeries within the last year along with doing radiation and chemotherapy. She’s had it pretty rough.”
Lexi Ann was diagnosed as having “bilateral Wilms tumors.” According to the American Cancer Society, Wilms tumors are the most common type of kidney cancer found in children.
Most Wilms tumors are “unilateral,” which means they only affect one kidney according to the ACS. About 5 percent of children with Wilms tumors have “bilateral disease,” which means they have cancerous tumors in both kidneys.
“Wilms tumors become quite large before they are noticed,” the ACS website said. “The average newly found Wilms tumor is many times larger than the kidney in which it started.” While the tumors are large, the ACS said most Wilms tumors are discovered before the disease has spread to other organs.
Because of Lexi Ann’s illness, her family has had to seek special medical care for her, Zullo said.
“The medical costs have been piling up and the family is worried they may not be able to afford to continue her treatments,” Zullo said.
Some of the local wrestlers know the Blevins family and decided to join forces to hold the benefit show in hopes of helping the family.
“We’re trying to raise as much money for her and help the family out as much as we can,” Zullo said.
The show on Saturday night will feature seven matches.
“We have an inter-gender tag team match on card,” Zullo said. Marky Mark and his partner Katy Lee will be taking on Simple Simon and Melody Madrox.
Scott Douglas will face off with Big Country in singles competition. In tag team action, The IKI will battle The Mayhem Mafia.
The main event for the night will see “Mr. RBI” Izeah Bonds squaring off with Chris Hensley, the leader of The IKI.
Also appearing in action will be local favorites Dax Cable, Cody Blade, Devon James, Will Balderas, Justin Hardy and many more.
Tickets are $10 for adults (12 years old and up), $5 for children ages 6 to 12 and children age 5 and under receive free admission. Tickets can be purchased at the door using cash or debit/credit cards, Zullo said. Bell time is 7 p.m. and doors open at 6 p.m.
Zullo wanted to thank Domino’s Pizza of Elizabethton for serving as a sponsor for the event.