Benefit for Johnson and LeClaire set for Saturday

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CURRIE — A benefit for Chrissy Johnson, fiancé of Adam LeClaire, will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday in the Currie Community Center.

The benefit, sponsored by the friends and families of Johnson and LeClaire, will include a meal of pulled pork sandwiches, bake sale and silent auction. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will provide matching funds.

In March 2012, Johnson, the owner of Cuts & Curls in Currie, gave birth to her third child, Karsynn Lily, born six weeks prematurely.

A month later, Johnson was diagnosed with breast cancer. In May, she underwent a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. In October, she underwent her second surgery and is once again in recovery.

In the last six months, Chrissy has been through more than 40 doctor appointments and hospital stays in Sioux Falls, S.D.

“The family was struggling with bills after her surgeries, and we came up with this idea (of a benefit) to help her out,” said Gwen Thomazin of Currie.

“We have had a tremendous and overwhelming response from the community and with people donating items to the silent auction,” she added. “People are giving goods for the bake sale and asking ‘How can I help?’”

“We have over 50 items to auction off — jewelry, purses, hamburger meat, a hog, binoculars, hunting gear, autographed photos of Percy Harvin and Adrian Peterson, gift baskets and a Schreier Construction gift certificate for $75 of labor,” she said, adding that businesses outside of the community, like Perkins, Wal-Mart, Scheels and Bank Midwest, have donated as well. “Everyone was more than generous and willing to give.”

Check donations can also be made out to “Chrissy Johnson Benefit” and sent to Currie State Bank, 141 Mill St., Box 176 Currie 56123.

Daily Globe Reporter Alyson Buschena may be reached at

376-7322.

Tags: news, benefit, johnson, leclaire