Woodstock Police Officer Fred Eiselstein and his family.

Fundraisers have been setup for a veteran Woodstock police officer and father of eight children, who has been diagnosed with cancer and will lose his health benefits along with 50 percent of his salary.

Fred Eiselstein is a 16 year veteran of the Woodstock Police Department and was recently diagnosed with advanced stage colorectal cancer.

He is currently undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. Eiselstein is planning on having surgery this summer followed by more chemotherapy and surgery.

He will lose his health benefits and have to go on disability at 50 percent of his salary. Eiselstein is a father of eight children with five children still living at home.

“Woodstock Police officers along with Iron justice and members of the surrounding communities have planned a fundraiser on behalf of Officer Fred Eiselstein and his family,” Dana Ladewig, a friend of Eiselstein’s wife said.

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“With a large family to support and mounting medical bills we decided to help this family by planning several fundraising opportunities,” Ladewig added.

A fund for cash donations has been setup under the name of Eiselstein Cancer Benefit at the Great Lakes Credit Union, 180 South Eastwood Drive in Woodstock. Donations can be mailed or hand delivered at the bank.

Tickets are being sold for a 50/50 raffle that will be drawn on June 30. There is also a fundraising event planned for June 30 from 1-7 p.m. at Rush Creek Distilling, 1501 West Diggins Street in Harvard.

There will be food, drinks, live music and a silent auction. Ladewig said that they are looking for items to be donated for the silent auction by June 23.

“We thank you in advance for considering how you can help this family in their time of need,” Ladewig said.

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Anyone who wants to purchase raffle tickets or has questions can contact Officer Dave Dempsey at 815-338-2131 or ddempsey@woodstockil.gov, Officer Adam Schraw at 815-338-2131 or aschraw@woodstockil.gov, or Dana Ladewig at 815-353-6053 or danaladewig@gmail.com.