By Emily Williams

A family-friendly concert is planned for Saturday to benefit the family of Blake Sergi, two-year-old son of Ali and Pip Sergi.

The fund-raiser will be held at the Batesville Lions Club from 5 p.m. – midnight on September 24.
Blake had surgery last week for removal of his left eye after cancer was detected there. His doctors believe he is now cancer free.

Dr. Sandra Lynn Bright, Batesville optometrist, found retinal cancer (retinoblastoma) after his mother noticed a “shadow” in his left eye.

Dr. Bright sent the Sergi family to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where his eye was removed that day.

The tumor was half the size of his eye, his mom said. The procedure took about 45 minutes.

“Blake really is a trooper,” Ali said. “He’s picked up as though nothing even happened. It’s truly amazing!

“I think that’s what’s so scary about this whole thing is the fact that he wasn’t ever in pain,” sad Ali, “or wasn’t getting sick as a result of the tumor. So if I had never seen the shadow in his eye, it would have been much worse.”

“I call it the silent cancer,” she added. “I want to help with retinoblastoma awareness.”
Blake is back to himself and was eating a Happy Meal when The Panolian’s reporter interviewed his mother via telephone.
Saturday fund-raiser

The Willywaggs will perform  at the Lions Club Saturday from 8 p.m. – midnight. Doors open at 5 p.m.

Admission for adults is $10 and kids 12 and under are free.  All children must be accompanied by an adult.

There will be concessions and live and silent auctions.

To donate items call Ricky Swindle at 563-3856.