A fundraising event has been set for Sunday, Feb. 20, to help a Quad Cities businesswoman fighting a brain tumor.
The event to benefit Cassie Kehl, co-owner of Rudy’s Tacos, 3944 Elmore Ave., Davenport, will be from 1-5 p.m. at The Iconic Event & Reception Venue, 1725 Second Ave., Rock Island.
A taco meal will be served at a cost of $10/person and Rock N Roll Bingo will be offered at $10/card. The event also will feature a basket raffle. All funds raised will go to Ms. Kehl’s medical costs associated with multiple brain surgeries.
Her medical ordeal began in January 2021 when doctors discovered Ms. Kehl had a 6 mm brain tumor. After meeting with doctors in Iowa City, her surgery was scheduled in March 2021 with an estimated healing time of six weeks. However, Ms. Kehl had a stroke during the surgery, leaving her paralyzed on her left side, and has undergone five surgeries and five continuous months in rehab hospitals. She still must undergo radiation to reduce the size of the tumor that remains.
Due to the complications, Ms. Kehl has been deemed unable to work for the rest of her life.
Both Cassie and Michael Kehl were hit with more complications when their Elmore Avenue Rudy’s Tacos caught on fire on Oct. 29, 2021. The business has been closed since as they work through the rebuild process. The business is scheduled to reopen in March.
“On behalf of Cassie and Michael Kehl, their closest friends, and the entire Kehl family, we appreciate the outpouring of love, prayers, and support shown over the past year and undoubtedly, in the months to come,” said family friend Beth Payne in a news release.
In addition to the Feb. 20 fundraiser, there have been fundraising events set up online.
“We have 100 RSVP’s so far and growing — space is limited so we are encouraging people to donate through the Go Fund Me Page,” Ms. Payne said. Find it here. As of Monday morning, $5,440 had been raised toward the $25,000 goal.
A Facebook event also has been set up for the fundraiser here:
Ms. Payne wrote on the GoFundMe page: “They (Cassie and Michael Kehl) are hard-working and think of everyone else ahead of themselves. Countless people, including myself, have been a benefactor of their kindness and generosity. They have never asked for anything they could not do themselves. They have always been there to lean on in good times and in bad.”
