Jim Littleton, surrounded by his family, addresses those attending the benefit event.

Chicago, Illinois – Calling it an amazing and joyous occasion, Jim Littleton, a Regnum Christi father of 14 children, is deeply grateful for the support he and his family received at a special event last month, and the great news he received this month!

The “Love for Littletons” benefit took place on October 16, 2011, at the Bourbon Street restaurant at 115th and Kedzie streets in Merrionette Park in metro-Chicago.

Family members and friends organized the October benefit to help defray expenses for Jim’s medical care and to help support his family.  On October 19, 2009 Jim was diagnosed with stage 4 chronic lymphocytic leukemia.  He has been battling (and winning) against the disease ever since.  As of All Saints Day, November 1, 2011, he learned he is “cancer-free,” nine months after a stem cell transplant he received from an anonymous donor.  Doctors will continue to monitor his progress over the next two years. 

He and his wife Kathleen and their children are very grateful to God, as well as to everyone involved in the organizing and attending the recent benefit. “I want to thank the more than 500 people that came, many of whom I did not even know,” he

	More than 500 people attended the event in support of the Littleton family.

said. “It increased my sense of the goodness of people that they would come out to support us in this way.”

“It was a beautiful experience, a kind of a reunion from so many different facets of our lives -- people we grew up with, went to school with, from our parishes, some people I hadn’t seen in decades.”

Even Cardinal Francis George stopped by to speak to the crowd and give them his blessing.

Jim wanted to especially thank Maureen Dalton and Rose Dubina and the other committee members who organized the event, to the many volunteers who worked that day, Kevin Healy & Associates who Maureen said “guided and helped us stay focused” on fundraising efforts, the DJ who donated his services, and to all those who supplied the 85 baskets for the raffle and the approximately 75 silent auction prizes.
 
Jim is also grateful for how he is feeling. “I’m striving and going forward,” he said, “one day at a time.”

For those who were unable to attend who would still like to contribute to help the Littleton family, monetary donations are still being accepted through Archer Bank 3435 W. 111th St. Chicago, Ill. 60655.