Benefit planned for Cedar Rapids man battling rare autoimmune disease

CEDAR RAPIDS - A few Cedar Rapidians are reuniting this weekend to help a childhood friend.

'The Last Ride”, which starts at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, will benefit the family of Josh Loeffler, a 39-year-old Cedar Rapids man who has been battling a rare autoimmune disease called sarcoidosis.

Loeffler, who takes 23 pills each day, was diagnosed with the disease in 2013. Since then, has had several surgeries, including the insertion of three pacemakers.

The main goal of the benefit is to inform others of Loeffler's battle.

'Everything happened really, really fast,” Loeffler said. 'It's been over three years, but it's just every couple of months something major has happened. This has been something as a family we've decided to in a sense deal with. I didn't want my challenges to take away from somebody else.”

Loeffler said he hasn't told a lot of people about his illness, so the the benefit was a shock to some.

Tony Winkler, Cedar Rapids native who grew up with Loeffler, said he was 'blown away” when he heard about his childhood friend's illness.

'It just goes to show he's a selfless guy who is not feeling sorry for himself,” Winkler said.

Loeffler's brother, Zach, said Josh has had to make more than a dozen trips to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. the last three years, and that has led to 'tremendous debt”.

'When someone is ill, they lose their ability as if they are taking care of themselves,” Josh Loeffler said. 'It was tough to ask for help.”

Saturday's benefit will include performances from three men who attended high school at Cedar Rapids Jefferson with Josh Loeffler.

Jeff Bruner, an acoustic guitar player, will perform, and Winkler is traveling from Nashville to perform with his country band, The Last Ride. Tim Sullivan will act as emcee and will perform a stand-up comedy routine.

'Whatever way we can help out, we will,” Bruner said.

Sullivan agreed, saying it was nice to use his talents for something good.

'We're not doctors, we can't heal him, but if we can put talents together to alleviate some of that (financial struggles), we're proud to do it,” Sullivan said.

Zach Loeffler said he hopes up to 2,000 people will attend the event and raise as much as $12,000.

Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Those interested in attending the benefit can still purchase tickets at http://www.ticketmaster.com/McGrath-Amphitheatre-tickets-Cedar-Rapids/venue/50531.