Dinner benefit will help boy

AUSTINTOWN -- The Cody Needham benefit Chinese auction and all-you-can-eat pasta dinner is from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Center, 4500 Norquest Blvd. Proceeds from the event will go to the Chromosome 18 Registry and Research Facility.
The event, sponsored by James and Stephanie Needham in honor of their son, Cody, also features baskets and autographed items from the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Indians. The cost of the meal is $5.95 per adult; $3.95 for children 6 and younger.
Cody was born with a rare genetic disorder called tetrasomy 18p, in which the 18th chromosome grows improperly. Symptoms can include abnormalities of the head and facial area; malformations of the spine, hands, and/or feet; neuromuscular abnormalities, such as increased muscle tone, increased reflex reactions and difficulty coordinating movement; kidney malformations; and/or additional physical abnormalities.
In addition, children and adults with the condition can also have moderate to severe mental retardation, limitations in speech and/or behavioral abnormalities.