Knights come to aid of Austintown man

NORA also will have a benefit for Ed Port , and donations can be made in his name at Chase Banks and Ohio Edison Penn Power Credit Union.

By DENISE DICK

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

AUSTINTOWN — There are a handful of ways to help a township resident who suffers from a rare disorder that causes facial tumors.

A pasta dinner and a charity autocross are planned to benefit Ed Port, 38, who suffers from neurofibromatosis Type 2, a rare condition that causes severe tumors that disfigure his face. The health insurance offered by his employer won’t cover surgery to correct the problem, Port says.

He says he’s gratified to know “there are people out there who are compassionate not only about my situation but about neurofibromatosis itself.

“People aren’t just out there with words and no action,” Port said. “It means a lot.”

Local area Knights of Columbus councils are joining together for an all-you-can-eat pasta dinner and basket raffle from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at St. Joseph Church, New Road. Tickets are $4 for children 12 and younger and $7 for adults and are available at the door.

The Northern Ohio Racing Association plans a charity autocross for Port as part of its Kickin’ Asphalt Weekend June 5-7 at Northfield Park in Northfield.

The event to benefit Port runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 6.

Donations also may be made to help Port under the account, Ed Needs A Miracle, at Ohio Edison Penn Power Credit Union, 6000 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown (44515) or at all Chase Bank branches.

Tony Velasco, Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus at Immaculate Heart of Mary, said he saw media reports about Port and his condition.

He then met Port at a charity event the Knights sponsored to benefit a parish family injured in a car accident.

“He came in and he was sitting by himself,” Velasco said.

Someone invited Port, who made a donation for the family, to the table where Velasco and others were sitting and they started talking. “I thought what would be a more fitting benefit than to help this guy in need,” he said.

He contacted other Knights councils in the area, and they all agreed to conduct the dinner for Port’s benefit.

“We’re about doing things not only for our parish, but for the community,” Velasco said.

Six K. of C. councils are participating in the dinner.

Marlon Sumlin, a spokesman for NORA, said he saw a television report about Port and wanted to help.

The cost is $20 to participate in the autocross and $2 for ride-a-longs. An autocross is a timed competition where drivers navigate one at a time through a temporary course marked by traffic cones, according to NORA’s Web site. Raffles also will be conducted. All proceeds will go to Port’s fund.

“This is a way to help one of our own,” Sumlin said. “He’s a resident of Northeast Ohio.”

He anticipates the event raising between $5,000 and $7,000 for Port.

Port believes he’ll need between three and four surgeries to correct his facial features. He’s consulted by phone and through the mail with doctors about the procedures required and estimated costs.

The first surgery is expected to top $175,000.

denise_dick@vindy.com