WHITNEY, TX — A golf tournament and benefit will be held this Saturday for Lily Mae to raise money for the family and create awareness about the rare brain-eating amoeba Lily contracted after swimming in the Brazos River.
Lily battled the rare amoeba for over a week before she passed away overnight on Sunday at Cook's Children Hospital in Dallas. A funeral service is being held for Lily on Friday.
"Words can not begin to express how overwhelming this past week has been for our family. We have been flooded by your love and support and feel incredibly humbled by how many lives have been impacted by our sweet and sassy, Lily Mae," says Lily's family.
The family says they started the Facebook platform #LilyStrong to increase awareness about the amoeba and prevent other families from going through what they are going through.
"If your child starts showing symptoms and has recently been swimming in freshwater, tell your doctor! The quicker they get treatment, the better."
Registration for the golf tournament starts at 8 a.m. and tee-off time is 8:30 a.m. on Saturday. The tournament will be held at the Lake Whitney Country Club followed by a benefit for the family at Sun RV Park in Whitney.
The benefit will include a cornhole tournament, food plates, bounce house, pool pass, and shirts and stickers will be sold. The live auction starts at 3 p.m. Sun Country RV Park is located at 255 Suncountry Dr. in Whitney, TX.
For more information on how to get involved or sponsor the events, or to donate items to the live auction, please contact Lacey Branscum at (254) 205-5155 or Becca Church at (254) 707-2635.
