Jessica helps raise money posted on her myspace
Local reality star helps raise money for friend in need
Fans of the TV show Big Brother 8 jumped at the chance to meet one of the show’s local stars signing pictures and selling t-shirts to raise money for a Wichita State student’s friend with cystic fibrosis, at Jocks and Jills Saturday.
Jessica Hughbanks, a Kansas native and reality TV personality on the series Big Brother 8, said that her mother contacted her friend Patti Spiegel, a fellow Wichita Thunder dance team member, about having the event.
Spiegel said that all of the funds from the event are going to help raise money for her friend Melissa Tweedy, a 26-year-old Wichita resident who has grown up with cystic fibrosis. Tweedy performed with Spiegel as a member Cowley County Community College Tigerette dance team.
“I have a friend with cystic fibrosis in need of a lung transplant.” Spiegel said.
The T-Shirts sold featured Hughbank’s catchphrase of “Booyah!” Fans bought the shirt, took a picture with Hughbanks and received a signed photograph.
Donna Brodin, a fan of the show who came in to see Hughbanks, said that she has watched Big Brother since the very beginning.
“I think that’s a wonderful cause,” Brodin said about the fundraiser.
In addition to raising money for her friend’s surgery Spiegel said she wanted to spread awareness about cystic fibrosis.
“People hear the word a lot but they don’t actually know what it means,” Spiegel said.
According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Web site,
www.cff.org, cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the U.S.
The Web site said that cystic fibrosis causes the lungs to clog and makes it more likely to develop lung disease. Cystic fibrosis also blocks the pancreas and makes it harder for the body to process food.
Spiegel said Tweedy’s current condition is improving and that she left the hospital and is able to stay at her house.
Though Tweedy could not be at the event, Spiegel said that Tweedy posted bulletins and left messages about the event on Myspace.
“She tries to promote in anyway that she can,” Spiegel said.
