Davenport, IA - Desmond Cunningham is not like most 28 year olds.
Desmond moved to the Quad Cities from Maywood, Illinois to attend Augustana College where he played on the football team. Shortly after college he joined the staff at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center in Rock Island where he has worked for the past 6 years as the Teen-Outreach Coordinator. He is a dedicated role model to the under-privileged children and often described as someone who consistently goes above and beyond his job duties. But he doesn't stop there.
Desmond also works for New Choices Inc., a human service provider in Eastern Iowa. There he supports adults with intellectual disabilities so they are able to live independently. Despite working with individuals with challenging behavior, Desmond always maintains his composure and treats clients with the utmost respect. He has even been known to take individuals home for Christmas to ensure they have a family to spend the holidays with and gifts to open. The service recipients' fondness for Desmond is vividly illustrated in their eagerness for his return to work.
Desmond has dedicated his life in helping others and now it's time for others to return the love. A year ago Desmond was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma (a rare cancer found in the bile ducts). He is currently undergoing chemotherapy to buy him time but there is no known cure. Friends and family are hosting a benefit to help support him mentally and financially.
Whether you know Desmond or not, we encourage you to attend the event on Saturday November 8th starting at 2 o'clock p.m. at Carriage Haus in Davenport. There will be a tournament, silent auction, and raffle, along with Koozies and bracelets for sale. All proceeds are going to help with medical bills.
