Terri Denise welcomes Lansing local, Leonardo Christian, to talk about two upcoming fundraising events to support patients with cancer. Christian himself is a cancer survivor, with his last treatment being on August 27th, 2025, and he's here to lend his heart, soul, and personality to help others. The first event is a silent auction on Friday, October 24th, at the Michigan Institute for Creative Art (MICA Gallery) with proceeds going to the Herbert-Herman Cancer Center. The second event is Saturday, October 25th, at Sir Pizza's Old Town Pub, where there will be live music and food, and proceeds will go towards helping patients directly.

Friday, Oct. 24th Event: MICA Gallery

Saturday, Oct. 25th, Event: Sir Pizza's Old Town Pub

If you would like to volunteer or cannot attend but still want to help, please reach out to:

Leonardo Christian (517) 885-5412 or ChristianLeonardo839@gmail.com

Welcome to Community Combos, a podcast and radio program from lcc. Connect with conversations about what's happening in Lansing and around mid Michigan.

Hello, this is Terri Denise. You might know me from Ripper. I am actually going to be conducting an interview, my first one for Community Convos, also called the Convo Now.

And with me today, I have Leonard Christian. Leonardo Christian. And I don't know why I wanted to call you Leonard. Did people ever call you Leonard?

No. Maybe a couple people. I take that back. Yes.

Okay. So maybe I was grabbing onto something from the past of some sort. So Leonardo, you are from Lansing.

Yes, Born and raised, west side of Lansing before they put in 496.

Oh my. Oh, wow. Okay. Yes. And so Lansing is a part of what you do. You are a heart and soul and a personality in Lansing.

And what I wanted to do was put a spotlight on some events that you are throwing, correct?

Yes, I'm helping organize.

All right.

And put on people dealing with cancer.

Okay. So it looks like October 24th.

Yes. There will be a silent auction at the Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art in Old Town on Turner Street.

Okay. So the Mica Gallery.

Yes. Micah.

Yes. All right. And then. So that's a Friday.

Yes, that's on a Friday. It starts at 4pm 4 to 8. There is a QR code where a person can get tickets. Tickets are $60 to come in.

And you come in and you check the merchandise that's going to be for auction. And you sit around and mingle and have a few cocktails and hors d'. Oeuvres.

Okay.

It all 100% financing is going to help people who is going through treatment for cancer. Because I was a patient of cancer.

Yes.

And I just did my last treatment August 27th. But while I was going through treatment, I met some really beautiful people.

Yes.

And I was listening to some of them share their stories amongst one another.

How they barely could pay a cell phone bill and get food because the side effects from the radiation and chemo stop them from going to work to some people can go to work. And I was talking to some other people about what can be done to help ease some of the burden.

Yes.

So the show that would be our October 25th, the day after the silent auction will benefit the people who are still going through that. The silent auction is going towards to the hospital for the Herbert Herman Cancer Center.

But the show that's going on the 25th of October at Sir Peter will help some of the people that's going through treatment and still struggling.

Okay. So. And then you were. I'm so glad that you are doing well, doing better, hopefully.

Yes.

I know what females go through now when it comes to the hot flashes because they had to lower my testosterone level to attack the cancer, and that have to be lowered for another 18 months. So when I was going through these hot flashes or whatever it was, and a person came up and said to me, now you know where the swimming goes in.

So going through that experience and being a Lansing native is so inspiring and encouraging to hear that while you're going through what you're going through with the treatment, that you're also just thinking about other people as well and looking forward to helping to give back to others and just helping out in general.

Yes. I took down. I went down the wrong road in life.

There's many pathways and God gave me a second chance.

So I give back to the community as much as possible.

Excellent. And so. So there's these two different specific events. You said the 24th for the silent auction fundraiser.

That's specifically for the Herbert Herman Cancer Center.

Yes.

And how. Okay, so those proceeds are going to be going specifically to Herbert Herman Cancer.

Center to help people who are going through cancer because they have grants for people that's going through cancer who can't have the finances to take care of things. You have to fill out the paperwork to do it. And I'm hoping this will also help people dealing with cancer, period.

Okay, so this is additional.

Yes. To help other persons who are struggling to make ends meet.

Yes. So. And then. So this is also going to help out with transportation to and from treatments. Yes, yes. And then lodging during medical care.

Yeah. Because you'd be surprised. Some of people come four hours away to go to treatment. And I'm like, I met some beautiful people.

And one of the ladies is the reason why this is going on right now.

Okay.

You know when she was sharing her story about how she was struggling and I was talking to another lady who was finished her treatment because she came back down to see me ring the bell.

Oh, yes.

And some friends of hers who'd be performing in New York, they performed the Sanders Sisters, which are called the Sisters. They were performing in New York. They're coming here just to do this show for cancer.

So they will be. So the. Some of the patients that you met are coming back to perform on the 25th.

No, one of the ladies who want the cancer is coming. But these are friends of hers.

Oh, they're friends. Okay.

Who decided they'd do this for free. Now, mind you, they travel all over to do shows. I see.

Okay. So one of the patients, they. Their friends perform as the sisters.

Yeah, they're coming down to perform just to do this special thing.

Oh, my goodness. That is amazing.

And then in addition to the lodging and transportation for help for that, you're also looking to help cover prescription and medical cost not covered by insurance. And then food and personal necessities. And then just to help overall with a feeling somebody cares. Yes.

Because it's not only just the physical treatment. It is emotional and mental.

And then so for the 25th, for the separate event that's happening the next day on Saturday, that will be at Sir Pizza in Old Town, 201East Cesar Chavez. And then we'll have more information about that up online that you can click on. But the doors open at 7:00pm and then the show starts at 8:00pm yes.

And we have some special surprises for you. I have somebody that's coming to drop their new single.

Ooh, what?

Yes.

Wait, we get a debut as well?

Yes.

Okay.

And this is somebody who works here for lcc.

Really? Okay. But it's got to be on a quiet. So you guys have to go then to find out who it is along with our LCC family here.

So the show is called People Dealing with Cancer. And this is to help to support those that are dealing with the effects of patient treatment. And then this is also a Halloween show.

Yes.

All right. And then our special guests once again are sisters from.

Inspired heavily from a Hocus Pocus, I believe the Sanders sisters Amok Amok Amok is one of my favorites. And then also featuring Denisha Gray.

Yes.

All right. And then the host for the evening will be Nestle Quick. Okay. Cover will be $15.

Yes.

All right. Anything else that you wanted to talk.

About, Just please come out and help support. They will also be selling food and stuff. The kitchen will be open and there's a cash bar. They will also donate a percentage to this.

So please come out and support this cause.

Okay. Well, I cannot wait myself. And are you going to need volunteers for this event as well?

Some, yes.

And then you can also email@christianleonardo839gmail.com I'll spell that out.

C H R I S T I A N L E O N A r d o numerical839gmail.com if you wanted to get in touch with Leonardo Christian and just wanted to even say words, kind words, or even if you wanted to donate. Two part is if you can't make it to either of the events. I'm sure you have more in store coming up as well.

Oh, yes.

Okay, so we'll have you back in then.

Yes. We got a winter wonderland coming up.

Oh, my goodness. I cannot wait for the bell of the ball.

And we wait till you see the Sandy sisters do the winter wonderland.

Oh, my goodness. We are looking forward to this.

It's a big surprise.

Okay. My goodness. Well, I just. I am looking forward to this. Thank you so much for coming in today.

We appreciate your time, Leonardo, thank you for having me. No problem. All right, well, thank you so much for joining us on the convo.

This is Terri Denise, and we hope to see you on October 24th at the Silent auction fundraiser at Micah Gallery and also at the Sir Pete Saw an old Town on October 25th. That's following Saturday for people dealing with cancer and support for that Halloween show. Thank you. Have a good day.

You've been listening to Community Combos, a program from LCC Connect with conversations about what's happening in our community. To listen to this episode on Demand, Visit us@lccconnect.org or find us on your favorite podcast platform.

If you or someone you know would like to be a guest on Community Convos, email us LCC ConnectCC. Edu. And thanks for joining the convo.