August 5, 2015 at 3:49 p.m.
Trivia event Aug. 8 to benefit young man battling cancer
Trivia event Aug. 8 to benefit young man battling cancer
By Kayla Thomason-
The event will take place from 4 to 10 p.m.
Ottman was diagnosed in December 2014 with stage four metastatic adenocarcinoma lung cancer, which has metastasized to his brain, liver, lymph nodes, scapula (shoulder blade), pelvis and spine.
Cost at the door will be $7.95 per person for the pizza bar with 20 percent of the proceeds going to the Jonathan Ottman benefit Fund. People can also order other tasty food off the menu.
Throughout the evening participants can pit their knowledge against others during a trivia competition to be led by Spencer Watz.
"(Jon is) a gamer and he's a trivia person so we want this event to be a celebration of Jon and who he is, in addition to raising funds to help support him," said his aunt Kathryn Ottman, a professional fundraiser from Maryland.
People are encouraged to participate with a team. There will be a $5 per person donation to participate in the trivia contest. All proceeds will go to the Jonathan Ottman Benefit Fund.
There will also be a guessing game where people will try to determine how much candy is in a jar. Cost will be $1 per guess and the prize is a gift certificate to Sportsman's Cafe.
A trio led by John Santy will perform music from 4 to 7 p.m. After the show, members of the public will be able to show off their musical talent in a jam session. Those who wish to perform must bring their own instruments.
The fun and activities won't end there. Participants can enter a silent auction for a wide assortment of prizes from gift certificates from area businesses, a 2014 autographed Green Bay Packers football, oil changes, a handmade quilt by Jodie Anderle, a bear floor lamp, a Pampered Chef basket, a Dunkin' Donuts gift basket and more. There will also be bracelets to support Ottman, which are being sold for $2. They read "Pray for Jonathan" and "Pray without ceasing."
Ottman has a very creative extended family who has used their varied talents to help raise funds. Their products will also be available for purchase.
Kathryn Ottman is a polymer clay artist who makes Hodag paw necklaces and earrings.
Jennifer Sackett, Jon's mother, makes scarves, necklaces and paracord bracelets.
"She's the kind of mom everybody wants and I really admire her," Kathryn Ottman said.
Ottman's uncle is a wood turner and made pens.
"We're all really staying as positive as we can be, saying a lot of prayers," said Kathryn Ottman. "It's a very loving network that we have developed here because of this unfortunate disease."
There will be at least one vendor at the benefit - Pampered Chef - which will be donating 100 percent of its proceeds from the evening to Ottman.
"It's amazing the number of people who have come out to support Jon and Jenny," Kathryn Ottman said. "I've never seen anything like this in Rhinelander where so many have come together. Really, I don't know what it is but it's pretty amazing."
People who are craving a sweet treat will be able to purchase goodies from the bake sale. Some of the desserts will include homemade pies, cookies, cupcakes and more.
Kathryn Ottman wasn't alone in tackling this big fundraiser, she had help from many of her nephew's friends and family.
Abbie and Brian Cline have been wanting to do a fundraiser for Ottman and Sackett told Kathryn Ottman about this interest.
"(Abbie Cline) said in her mind she wanted this to be a celebration of who Jon is, not the fact that he has cancer, and it's taken over a lot of his life right now, but celebrate who he is," Kathryn Ottman said. "That's one of the reasons I wanted to incorporate the trivia, he is a gamer and I know there are a lot of gamers and trivia people in town as well."
Brian Cline and Ottman have been "partners in crime" since grade school and Abbie Cline has known him since high school.
The Haven was chosen because the owners and the Ottman family are friends and it seemed to be the perfect place.
Despite all of the prayers and support that Ottman has been receiving, his health is not improving.
He has undergone six rounds of chemotherapy. The first five went fine, but after the sixth round the doctors discovered that the medication had stopped working and the cancer had spread further into his bones.
He has undergone 10 rounds of radiation and is taking new chemotherapy.
Ottman tries to remain positive, but due to the cancer being in his bones he is in pain.
While on steroids prescribed to help with some of the side effects of his treatment, he developed avascular necrosis in his left knee, which caused additional pain. According to Sackett, the steroids cause the blood to release a fatty substance and in Ottman's case it blocked off the blood flow to the bones around his knee.
The pain regimen he is on for the bone metastasis helps with the pain he has in his knee.
Recently, in the span of 36 days, Ottman has spent 30 in the hospital, emergency room or receiving treatment.
"(Jon) is just a good guy, has a big heart and so hopefully people will come out and support him," Sackett said.
Despite all the days he feels unwell, he has moments of sheer joy, his family says.
His girlfriend, Falon Skaleski, surprised him one of the days he was in the hospital.
"He always lights up whenever she calls or whatever," Sackett said with a smile. "His blood counts from the day that she got there - so the morning before he knew that she was going to be there - to the next day (his blood counts) quadrupled," she added. "From there it quadrupled again the next day that she was there. I said 'That's it, you just have to move here.'"
Donations may be made through Ottman's GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/jc507s or to the Jonathan Ottman Benefit Fund at Peoples State Bank.
To make a donation of an auction item, prize, or financial gift or to volunteer for the event, contact Kathryn Ottman directly at [email protected] or call (715) 282-5070.
Kayla Breese may be reached at kayla@ rivernewsonline.com.
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