Local 488 Brother Jeff Schmidheini was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma two years ago at the age of 30.  Currently there is no cure for this disease and Jeff is unable to work due to his illness.  Jeff has recently been through his third stem cell transplant and the cancer only stayed in remission for three short weeks.  He is now undergoing chemotherapy treatments and continues to be in and out of Yale New Haven Hospital.

Jeff and his wife Amy have two sons, Allen and Patrick ages 2 and 5 years old.  This young family needs a helping hand to make ends meet.  Medical expenses, travel costs including gas to go back and forth to treatments and hospitals, family expenses, car payments, regular household expenses and other bills have exhausted their bank account. 

For those of you who may not know Jeff, he is a hard worker and a proud member of IBEW Local Union 488.  He is also a loving husband and father who would not ask for help from others on his own. 

In order to raise money and help Jeff's family, his in-laws, Judy and Mike Shpak are sponsoring a benefit dinner to be held on March 22, 2008 at the Villa Bianca Inn in Seymour, CT.  Tickets for the dinner are $50.00 per person and are available at the Union Hall or by contacting Judy or Mike Shpak @ 203.924.0831.  The evening will feature raffles, DJ, Cash Bar and a silent auction.

If you can't make the dinner but still want to help out in the spirit of Brotherhood, donations can be sent to IBEW Local Union 488, 501 Main Street, Monroe, CT 06468 or directly to the Shpak family.  Make check or money order to:  Judy and Mike Shpak - 9 Coram Road, Shelton, CT 06484.