600 attend Jeff Kujawa fund-raiser

More than 600 Perry County residents turned out for a Saturday night fund-raiser at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Pinckneyville to help Jeff Kujawa of Kujawa Tree Service who was injured in a tree trimming accident.

Beth Lipe of the Perry County Highway Department, one of the organizers, said she believes the fundraiser to defray medical and transportation costs, raised over $10,000.

"I worked in the kitchen all night, but I think we fed 600 people. There were a lot of carryouts," Lipe said.

She believes one of the auction items, a seven-day vacation package, raised $2,200. NASCAR tickets went for $1,200.

The fund-raiser lasted until midnight.

The band "One Night Stand" performed through the night.

Jeff was at home during the event, but videos were made of the event to take to him. A CNA (certified nurse assistant) taking care of him, came to the event and took back the good news and a video of how successful the night was.