A fundraiser was held at New Carlisle Sports and Fitness Center Sunday afternoon to benefit an organization that has profoundly touched the lives of a New Carlisle family. Rick and Kim Lewis, whose 11 month-old son Tucker was born with a congenital heart defect, held the event to support Mended Little Hearts, a non-profit organization dedicated to forming a support system for families undergoing the same battles.

Kim Lewis said the event raised $600 for Mended Little Hearts through donations and raffles obtained Sunday afternoon. She said this money will be used by the organization for research and support for families who have children facing extensive medical procedures and long hospital stays.

Lewis said she did quite a bit of searching for the right support group after learning of Tucker’s diagnosis, and found Mended Little Hearts on her own. She said she was seeking the support of other mothers who had already been through her situation in order to find some hope—which is exactly what she found after speaking to the other moms. She said her family got to meet some of the other families in the area during a Christmas party, which was the first time they got to meet in-person.

She extended her appreciation to the New Carlisle Sports and Fitness club and numerous local businesses for their generous donations and raffle items for the event. For a small entry fee, visitors could enjoy several hours of different fitness classes, kids’ activities, and chair massages.

A balloon launch was held in the afternoon in honor of all the “Superheros”—i.e., the children like Tucker who were born with congenital heart defects.

Lewis stopped to point out a jar full of whole walnuts in the shell Sunday afternoon at the event, explaining that an infant’s heart is roughly the same size, marveling at the fact that doctors are able to not only work on but repair something so small, yet so undeniably vital.