WROI News

Ken Hughes Benefit Dinner at RHS Friday, September 17

The Ken Hughes Benefit Dinner has been rescheduled for Octobr 1, location yet to be determined. The dinner was originally planned to be Friday, September 17 at RHS before the Rochester-Tippecanoe Valley football game that had been canceled.

 

The meal for October 1 includes a Burkett's pulled pork sandwich, chips, cookie, and a drink for eight dollars. Proceeds go towards RHS teacher and football coach Ken Hughes's extensive medical bills.  

 

For the past three-and-a-half decades, Ken Hughes has been a part of Rochester sports.  He has been coaching on the sidelines of Zebra football since 2005. Winning games hasn't been the only battle for Hughes. He was diagnosed with chondrosarcoma in his right hip in 2005, resulting in surgery to remove the 28 cm mass. 

 

Cancer returned in 2008 and Hughes was treated with radiation, but his battle was still not over. Another cancer return in 2011 resulted in a hemipelvectomy, costing him his right pelvis hip, and leg. Since the radical surgery, Hughes has been cancer-free and has gone back to teaching and coaching at Rochester High School.

 

At the of last year, however, he was thrown another curveball. 

 

 

Recovery after his neck surgery meant building back his strength with physical therapy. By March of 2021, Hughes ran into further complications that required another surgery and an even longer recovery. 

 

 

Now back in his classroom and on the field, his recovery still isn't over. Calling it quits is not an option for the father of three, with two kids in college and one a senior in high school. 

 

First Christian Church of Rochester organized the benefit dinner to help the costs of the substantial medical bills generated in the past eight months from extensive hospital stays, two surgeries, home health care equipment, wound care supplies, and a new wheelchair. Tickets are available at RHS and First Christian Church. Donations can also be sent to First Christian Church at 1101 Madison Street in Rochester. 

 

Hughes says he's grateful for the supportive community he lives in. 

 

 

 

Photo by Paula Beehler

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