COMMUNITY TURNS OUT FOR PAIGE
A community came together for a young girl last Wednesday, and the results were heartwarming.

Austin Firehall was the site of a lasagna dinner fundraiser for the family of Paige McLaughlin, an eighth-grader at Austin Area School who has been diagnosed with a rare blood disease abbreviated as LCH.

The event was sponsored by United Methodist Church Charge of Austin, Costello, Keating Summit; St. Augustine Catholic Church, Austin Free Methodist Church, Austin Volunteer Fire Company and the local Boy Scouts.

Among the winners of an auction held at the dinner were: Jeff Leightner, Don Lathrop, Judy David, Penny Glover, Darren VanWhy, Dorothy Carr, Mark VanWhy, John Rotello, Sherry Bundy, Denise Glover and Barb Purdy.

Paige has impressed family and friends with her positive outlook. Her family is heartened by recent findings that the tumor/growth in the affected area is beginning to shrink. Side effects of treatment, such as short-term memory loss, have also been lessened.

Still, the family faces regular trips to Pittsburgh and Philadelphia for medical treatment.

Paige is the daughter of Mike and Colleen Zenns and the granddaughter of Carol and the late Ruby McLaughlin.