Benefit Set For Bolingbrook Man Fighting Cancer

A vision for family and community is how Bolingbrook resident Rolando Banda has lived his life.

Through the years, Banda has volunteered for Bolingbrook Community Television, a coach for little league, helping out with a Bolingbrook Boy Scout Troop and playing in worship at his church, Living Water.

Right now Rolando is in the battle of his life. He has Mucosal melanoma, the rarest of melanomas. A routine CT scan showed the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes of his neck. This meant more surgeries. Today the melanoma had spread to a lymph node in his chest, now bringing him into early Stage 4. . A virotherapy treatment is available but not covered by the health insurance.

Friends Mike Lorber and Jim Jensen have organized a benefit being held Saturday Feb. 27th from 2-7 p.m. at Tailgaters Sports Bar & Grill. The bar located at 431 W. Boughton Road in Bolingbrook will host the event. The community has come together and donated auction & raffle items. Adults are $20 Teens & kids under 18 are FREE. Tickets online at WWW.TAILGATERSGRILL.COM or at the door.

“I think if you have a chance to help raise money for a great cause for a family who needs it, you should do it,” said Lorber. “I was able to run a benefit for my Aunt seven years ago so the idea came to me again. Tailgaters has been amazing and so generous with all of this,” he added.

Jim Jensen who owns Jensen Entertainment is donating a balloonist, caricature artists, a trivia person, a chance to go into a Money Machine and much more. “Rolando and I met when he moved in down the street from me in Bolingbrook. We were in 5th grade, we have been friends ever since,” said Jensen. “The hope of everyone is he will be able to get the care and treatment he needs to beat this thing,” he added.

Banda has worked as a freelance helicopter news photographer. He has made many friends in the business, including Roz Varon, traffic anchor for ABC 7 Chicago. She herself, going through cancer has been a huge support for Rolando.

“ I am a “glass half-full” kind of gal to begin with, so keeping a positive attitude helps a lot,” said Varon. “It’s not always easy – early on, the best advice I got was when I started to have one of those “Why me” moments, acknowledge it, and MOVE ON! Again, not always easy, but it makes life a little more “normal.” What I would say to Rolando in print is the same thing I’ve said to him in person – keep a positive attitude, let those who love you help when they can, and be your own best advocate when it comes to your health, because knowledge is power,” she added.

Varon who donated 4 VIP tickets to “ Windy City Live” to Rolando’s benefit, encourages family and friends to remain positive.” When I was first diagnosed, some people were afraid to talk to me because they didn’t know what to say. Because I was very open about my cancer journey, I wanted others to know that having cancer is not an automatic death sentence,’ said Varon. “I treat it like a chronic illness – similar to diabetes or heart disease. So much has been done on the research front in the 10 years since I was diagnosed at stage 4, that I feel if my body stops responding to my current treatment, I’m confident there is another treatment that will help keep my cancer in remission,” added Varon.

Besides having a lot of family entertainment available at the benefit, live music will be playing as well as also a dessert table and great silent auction items.

“We look forward to bringing fun and a rocking time to all who attend the benefit,” friend Mike Lorber said. “ I sing for the opening band Jackdaddy and the Catalina Wine Mixers and

The Sam Dandals Band is immensely talented and have been a staple in Elgin for years. Crowds always leave their shows with a smile on their faces. 6’10 has been kind enough to come out from Chicago and bring their large following with them,” he added.

“All of us have family members that have been affected by Cancer,” Lorber added. “ I watched my brother go through this fight, and beat it, just two years ago. It took a brutal physical toll on him. The fact that Rolando can go through extensive treatment and still fly every day in a chopper amazes me.”

If you cannot come out to the benefit please donate to WWW.GOFUNDME.COM/FIGHTWITHROLANDO