LANDIS — On Saturday, June 2, the community is invited to celebrate and support Declan Rickard Bentley. A zumbathon — Dance for Declan — will be held from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 108 West Rice St. in Landis.
An $8 admission fee includes water and snacks. Later that evening, the fundraiser will continue at the Kannapolis Recreation Park from 5-8 p.m. For a $10 admission fee, guests can enjoy swimming, live music, dramas preformed by the CHAOS youth group and a slideshow of Declan’s journey. A portion of all proceeds raised between 5-8 p.m. will be donated to Declan.
The 3-month-old was born Feb. 20 to Harold and Miranda Bentley of Kannapolis but had a condition known as chromosome 22 deletion, otherwise known as DiGeorge syndrome. Just after birth, doctors discovered the rare heart defect, which in Declan’s case is a nonexistent pulmonary valve. He miraculously had veins that grew to carry out the function of the missing valve. Declan’s doctors have to work strategically to restructure existing veins for adequate blood flow so he can continue to grow.
Declan has overcome many obstacles in his short lifetime and has fought through all the testing, constant interruptions in his sleep, and much pain that has come with keeping him stable.
“The Bentleys have been so strong in their faith and Declan is such a fighter,” said Candace Carter, who helped organize the event. “So as a community, let’s show them how much we support them and help them financially along the way. I can promise you will be truly blessed.”
For more information, contact Kristen Jenkins at sryouthdirector@yahoo.com or call 704-657-8826.