Iola man facing cancer, hospital bills

By Holly Neumann

A fundraising benefit for Tommy Boyle and his family will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 1, at Par 4 Resort, 201 Foxfire Drive, Waupaca.

Boyle, from Iola, was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2015 and received treatment. His cancer came back in 2021 and spread to his only remaining kidney. The decision was made to remove a kidney and his bladder to stop the spread.

The hope is that one day Boyle will be able to receive a kidney transplant, but for now, he is receiving dialysis three times a week.

“Getting cancer is tough enough for everyone, but then dealing with the hospital bills adds to the stress,” said Halden Collins, who is helping to organize the event. “If we can help as a community and come together to support the Boyle family, we should.”

Collins describes Boyle as a fun-loving, devoted family man.

“He loves is wife, children and grandchildren,” he said. “He is a hard-working foundry man who loves to golf and go fishing when he is not spending time with his family.”

The family-friendly event will include a cornhole tournament, basket raffles, 50/50 drawing, bake sale, DJ and sundae bar.

Registration for the cornhole tournament will begin at 11 a.m. The cost is $20 per person or $40 per team. Bags will fly at noon and there will be a 50% cash payout.

Funds will be used to help cover some of Boyle family’s medical expenses, Collins said.

Contact Collins at 715-467-1244 for donation or early registration information.

“We are very thankful to be part of this great community,” he said. “It’s amazing how this community and surrounding communities come together and help with unfortunate circumstances like this.”