FORT RIPLEY-There will be a benefit from 4 p.m. to midnight April 8 at St. Mathias Park Pavilion in Fort Ripley to help a 13-year-old boy who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in February of 2011.
The boy, Rylee Oehrlein, who is an eighth-grader at Browerville Public Schools, struggles daily with his blood sugars. He has had numerous hospital stays, emergency room visits and multiple doctor's appointments. Money is being raised for a diabetic alert dog to help Rylee.
Cost is $10 and activities during the benefit include a DJ, a 50/50 drawing, quilt raffle, silent auction, live auction, meal and cash bar.
With the help of an alert dog, Rylee will be notified when his levels are high or low. Currently, Rylee's dog is in training in Las Vegas. When Rylee has a diabetic attack, he puts cotton balls in his mouth, which absorbs his saliva. Those cotton balls are then shipped to Las Vegas where scent training takes place. Although the two haven't met yet, his service dog will be very familiar with Rylee's scents and will be able to help him tremendously. Rylee plans on meeting his dog in May or June-depending on how long it takes her to learn the scents.
Financial gifts and donations are being accepted at: www.gofundme.com or Rylee Oehrlein, PO Box 34, Browerville, MN 56438.
