Kurt Hinish has deep roots in Baldwin-Whitehall.

A 1984 graduate of Baldwin High School, Hinish is a volunteer coach for the Baldwin-Whitehall Youth Football Association, and his wife, Tawnie, is a technology teacher for the Baldwin-Whitehall School District.

Recently, Kurt, 46, had surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his colon, and he is facing several months of chemotherapy, severely hampering his ability to work as a self-employed concrete contractor.

In response, many members of the B-W community are rallying to help the Hinish family (which includes four children ranging in age from third grade to college-aged) with medical and living expenses in its time of need, starting with a fundraiser at the Getaway Cafe in Baldwin Township on Friday, March 1.

Getaway customers who mention to their servers between 3 and 11 p.m. on March 1 that they are dining for the "Hinish Fundraiser" will have 20 percent of their food purchases donated to Kurt's family. Also, from 4 to 6 p.m. that day, 20 percent of alcohol purchases for the "Hinish Fundraiser" will go to the family.

The donations will not include gift certificate sales and will not be good with any other coupons or offers.

A Silpada jewelry party is also planned for March 24 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Maiden Bridge Community Room in Whitehall Borough in which 20 percent of the total sale of the jewelry will be donated to the Hinish family by Silpada representative Denise Geary.

Orders can be processed at www.mysilpada.com/denise.geary. Click "Shop Now," make your selections and then proceed to checkout. Click "Place a Party Order" and choose "Kurt Hinish Fundraiser" as the hostess. Online orders must be placed no later than March 27. Questions? Contact Geary at denisegeary@comcast.net.

There are other fundraising plans in the works, as well, such as a Pennsylvania Lottery cash raffle, a Pittsburgh Penguins tickets raffle, a lift-a-thon, and a wrist bands and T-shirts sale.

For more information about those events, or to submit a fundraising idea of your own, contact Diane Kennard at dkennard@adagiohealth.org.

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