John Weekly Fundraiser: Over 300 Dinners Purchased

Even with the world on their shoulders as their 7-year-old son is battling Kawasaki Disease, the Weekly family is forever grateful for the community stepping up to assist their family in their time of need. This is yet another example of why East County is the greatest place to live as we are a community of givers in times of need.

Last night, the Hot Shots Softball Team, East County Little League, and Black Bear Diner teamed up with to host a fundraiser for the family which sold over 300 steak sandwich dinners with proceeds going towards the family.

We wrote about the John Weekly last week who has been in and out of the hospital and is currently taking treatments twice a day while taking many tests in the process—the diagnosis went from being the flu, to Scarlett Fever to finally being diagnosed with Kawasaki Disease. During this process, both Sakari and Bryant Weekly Jr. lost their jobs.

Still, even with a dark cloud hanging over their heads medically speaking, the Hot Shots could be seen in their bright orange jersey removing that cloud for a night as they worked on fundraising opportunities from Main Street trying to get more folks to purchase last minute dinners.

The community and those who made this fundraiser happen get a major kudos for a job well done.

Although many board members could not attend due to games being played last night, many did purchase dinners and were there in spirit.  They released the following statement.

Here is a statement from East County Little League

East County Little League was heart broken when we first learned of Johnny Weekly’s diagnosis of Kawasaki disease. Our baseball family and our greater community is very important to us as a league so we were more than happy to co-sponsor and actively promote this Weekly Family Fundraiser with Black Bear Diner and two other great community organizations – the Hot Shots and the Nor Cal Titans Baseball Club.

As a tribute to Johnny and an outward reminder of how much we miss him, his team mates on our East County Little League AA Red Sox all wear his uniform number and initials on their game jerseys – JW 23.

East County Little League would like to thank everyone in our community for purchasing dinner tickets and for teaming up with us to support a courageous young man and his family in their hour of need. We especially look forward to Johnny rejoining us on the ball fields to play ball!