By Nancy Young
Enquirer contributor

MASON - A group of friends and "friends of friends" have joined forces to host a benefit for an ailing Mason woman.

BENEFIT EVENTS

Andrea Bates benefit When: Nov. 28, 7 p.m. to midnight Where: Receptions Banquet & Conference Center, 5975 Boymel Drive, Fairfield Cost: $25 per person; cash bar Reservations may be made by calling Kim Hill, 754-3027; or pay at the door. Cash donations for Andrea Bales or auction donations are also welcome. Mason School raffle Benefit organizers are also hosting a raffle for Mason High School students; Andrea Bales' daughter is a sophomore there. A raffle for an evening's use of a limousine and $100 Jag's Steak & Seafood gift certificate will be awarded, and the winning student may use the prize for any school dance or prom. Cost: Tickets are $1 each or six for $5 and may be purchased by calling Kim Hill at 754-3027. The winning ticket will be drawn Nov. 26.

Andrea Bales, 37, a 30-year Mason resident and single mother of two daughters, recently underwent a pancreotomy at University Hospital, an experimental surgery in which her pancreas was removed following a two-year battle with chronic pancreatitis. Bales recently returned home, and faces several months of recovery before doctors can determine whether the operation was successful.

The Andrea Bales Benefit will be held Nov. 28 at Receptions Banquet & Conference Center in Fairfield. Kim Hill, a Mason resident and long-time friend, is heading up the event.

Hill and eight other organizers are planning an evening of cocktails and food, entertainment, silent and oral auctions, and fellowship.

Auction items include vacations in England and Florida, restaurant gift certificates, rounds of golf at area country clubs and cosmetic dentistry services. Mason comedian Steve Caminetti will entertain and serve as auctioneer. Box of Rocks, a band composed of local professionals (including one of Bales' doctors) will also perform.

Steve Tepe, former owner of Receptions, has donated the hall, food and drinks for the evening.

A registered nurse with Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Bales is on long-term disability. Her daughter Jenna attends Miami University, and daughter Alex is a sophomore at Mason High School.

"We visited the Cleveland Clinic and were told there was nothing they could do," said Bales' mother, Mary Jane Bales. "In layman's terms, a pancreotomy means that the pancreas is removed and the liver eventually takes over much of its functions."

Although the disease is not considered hereditary, Andrea's sister Lynn also suffers from the disease but has not yet agreed to the experimental surgery, preferring to live with severe chronic pain.

Benefit organizers hope to raise enough to cover $15,000 in medical expenses not covered by insurance, plus additional funds to help with living expenses.