Christmas for Lilie: A raffle from the heart

January 11, 2018

By Ed Byrne The Brillion News

ASKEATON – A lot of schools and taverns have 50/50 raffles to raise funds for a good cause.

But seldom do you see a 90/10 raffle like the one started by Connie Leon, owner of the Rocky Top in Askeaton.

It was Rocky Top Christmas for Lilie Raffle with the proceeds going to a nine-year old Wayside girl who is fighting for her life.

Lilie Christel is a student at Reedsville Elementary School, although it’s been seven months since she was in school.

She was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on May 16 of last year, and she, her family and doctors have been fighting it ever since.

Most of the raffles for someone facing a deadly opponent like cancer are helping to pay medical bills.

But this raffle was different. Leon wanted the money to go to Christel, for her to spend as she wishes.

It began around Thanksgiving, with a drawing scheduled for Christmas Eve. Thanks to cold weather and bad roads, the drawing was delayed until Tuesday, January 2.

The idea of the 90/10 raffle is that the winner gets 10 percent of the kitty and the recipient – Christel – gets 90 percent.

“The winning ticket was blank, which means someone who donated wanted Lilie to have the entire amount,” Leon said.

Each ticket sold for $1, so it’s safe to say that a lot of folks want to see Christel win her battle with cancer.

And so, on January 3, when Leon handed the envelope to Christel, all of the proceeds from the raffle were in it.

There was over $1,000.

Christel’s mother, Jackie Rasmussen, and her older sister, Kendra Christel, stopped at the Rocky Top for pizza and the presentation.

Christel’s battle with cancer has not been an easy one.

“There were complications,” Rasmussen said.

Please see the complete story in the January 11, 2018 edition of The Brillion News.