REGIONALA benefit will be held Saturday at the Sheldon Eagles Club for a Hartley man facing a second bout with cancer at the age of 26.

Branden Hengeveld was diagnosed in February of 2021 with Hodgkin lymphoma and went through six months of chemotherapy. After this treatment, he was given the all-clear in August.

In December, he had a follow-up scan, and the doctors noticed some concerning things. They did a biopsy, but it came back negative. Hengeveld went back for another scan in March and enlarged lymph nodes prompted another biopsy which this time came back positive for Hodgkin lymphoma.

When it was discovered, the cancer already was between stages 2 and 3.

Hengeveld has started doing chemotherapy treatment again in Sioux Falls, SD, to shrink his cancer and then at the end of June, he will be headed to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, for around six weeks.

Six to eight weeks is the usual, but they said just prepare for a 100-day stay, he said.

Hengeveld will be undergoing a stem cell transplant treatment at Mayo. The treatment consists of three weeks of tests, then six days of strong chemotherapy followed by the stem cell transplant which will take three weeks of recovery.

He will have to stay in Rochester during the entire process.

Funds raised by Saturdays benefit will go toward travel, rent and any other expenses for Hengeveld during his treatment.

Hengeveld grew up in Sanborn and lives in Hartley. He has worked for the last few years at Den Hartog Industries in Hospers, where he became friends with Vanessa Harig who is hosting the event.

Pretty much everyone at Den Hartog knows Branden, Harig said. Hes a very great guy and is always very happy and bubbly. It is going to be hard when he is away in Rochester.

Hengevelds father and brother knew they wanted to hold a benefit for him but were unsure how to organize it, so they sought out Harigs assistance.

Me being crazy like I am, said, Yea, I can organize a benefit, Harig said.

She is no stranger to organizing events and helping others. Harig is the director of the Awakening Grace Foundation in Orange City, which helps those who have lost a child during pregnancy or infancy.

Although she has a lot going on, Harig felt up to the task and the cause worthy.

A lot of people get caught off guard when the realize how young Branden is and that he has already had cancer twice, she said. Hes fighting hard and doing everything he can.

Despite all that has happened, Hengeveld remains positive.

Its been a process for sure, he said. But Ive met a lot of people and made some good friends throughout it.

Hengeveld has a GoFundMe page as well as a Facebook page where he posts updates.

Saturdays fundraising event will consist of a spaghetti supper with garlic bread and homemade desserts starting at 5 p.m. until it is gone as well as a silent auction 5-7 p.m. There also will be a raffle for a Traeger smoker grill which will be drawn for at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the raffle are $20 each and 100 tickets will be sold. Participants need not be present to win.

Text Vanessa Harig at 712-344-2149 to enter the raffle or for any questions.

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Eagles Club will host Hengeveld benefit | News - nwestiowa.com