For the love of Dee

Published 11:00 pm Friday, September 14, 2012

Dee and Mike Hughes

Dee and Mike Hughes

Community rallies to support Hughes during her ongoing battle of Cancer

Ryan and Kelly Nelson are happy to repay a favor to the Hughes family; they just wish it was under better conditions.

The Nelsons are spearheading a benefit cook-out next Saturday at Ms. Colleen’s with proceeds going to Deanne Hughes as shew battles breast cancer for a second time.

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Hughes is a teacher and coach at Goshen and has an impact on many girls in Pike County.

“She has just gotten on Facebook,” Nelson said with a smile. “All the girls comment on her page asking her when she is coming home and telling her that they miss her. They truly love ‘Mama Dee,’ as they call her.”

Kelly Nelson said that when she and husband Ryan moved to Troy from Missouri, the Hughes family lent them a hand. She also said that the community is better off having the Hughes family in it.
“Mike, her husband, is a police officer,” said Nelson. “They do a great job interacting with the teenagers and helping out the community when possible.”

The event will take place Saturday, Sept. 22 at Miss Colleen’s in Troy. Folks have the choice of hamburgers or hotdogs for lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Boston butt or barbecue chicken from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Nelson said that patrons can either dine at the sight or take it home, and can eat both meals if they like. “They can come for lunch or dinner or both,” said Nelson. “If they want to spend the day up here, they are welcome to.”

In addition to the meals, raffles will be held with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the Hughes family for expenses to travel to and from Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Over a dozen local businesses and organizations have donated items ranging from gift certificates to electronics. The “big item” is a brand new, stainless steel, gas grill donated by Lowes.  Raffle tickets for the grill are $5 and all other tickets are $2.

Nelson said that Fraternal Order of Police, Delta Chi fraternity and local business have been a huge help in making the event larger and helping the planning process run smoothly.

Deespite her illness, Nelson said that Hughes remains upbeat throughout the process. “I have not spoken to her one time during this ordeal that she hasn’t been upbeat and positive,” said Nelson.
“She is strong.”