Liam Woods Fundraiser 

Chris DeBack
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

A fundraiser to help offset the costs for young Liam Woods of West Union to work with a Retrieving Freedom service dog will be held at Echo Valley Speedway starting at 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1.

The fundraiser will start with a meal served at 4 p.m., which will include barbecued pork sandwiches, potatoes, beans, and bottled water. At the same time a silent auction will be underway with a variety of fun baskets available for bid. 

At 6 p.m., the live auction will start with a host of unique items, including quilts, guns, a signed football from the Green Bay Packers, items from the University of Iowa, women’s basketball tickets to Iowa State University, football tickets to an Upper Iowa University game, a signed basketball and other items from the University of Northern Iowa, two pigs, a steer, and much more.

The fundraiser is to help pay for the cost of a Retrieving Freedom service dog that needs to be trained to Liam’s specific needs.  After undergoing physical therapy with another dog at Taylor Physical Therapy in Waverly, it was evident how much Liam could benefit from this service.

Liam was recently diagnosed with somatic mosaicism MECP2 deletion, which causes handwringing, speech apraxia and hypotonia, according to Liam’s mother, Aleisha Woods of West Union. It is a very rare condition, so not a lot is known about it. 

If you wish to make a donation ahead of time, you may mail a check made payable to the Liam Woods Fundraiser and send ATTN: Kara Johnson, Citizens Savings Bank, PO Box 6, Hawkeye, IA, 52147.