On Saturday, July 14 family, friends and local community members are invited to attend a benefit in honor of Forest Lake native Mathew Kijenski.

Kijenski, who grew up in the Forest Lake area, was recently diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma and Primary Amyloidosis, a rare form of cancer that has affected his heart due to complications.

Kijenski was active in the Forest Lake community. He is a 1991 graduate of Forest Lake High School. While in high school Kijenski was involved with the marching band, theater and the speech team. Outside of school Kijenski was an active member of Masquer’s Theatre.

After high school he attended college at Mankato State University. Following college Kijenski moved back to Forest Lake and was a resident until recently.

His family has since moved from Forest Lake to Mankato, in order to be closer to Kijenski’s treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

According to Matt’s family, he has been responding well to chemo and other treatments but a bone marrow transplant and a heart transplant may become a reality down the road.

To help out Matt and his family with medical costs family and friends of the Kijenski’s will be holding a benefit dinner for him on Saturday, July 14 from 5 p.m. to midnight at the Hugo American Legion.

The evening will include a pig roast, music by Black Tie Entertainment and a silent auction.

The cost for the benefit is $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

The Hugo American Legion Post 620 is located at 5383 140th St. N. in Hugo.

Charitable cash donations can be made payable to:

The Mathew Kijenski Benefit, c/o: First State Bank of Wyoming, 26741 Felton Ave., Wyoming, MN 55092.

For prepaid admission contact Kevin Bromert at 651-343-5243.

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