×

Benefit to help Mingo business owner

JOINING THE FIGHT — The employees, friends and family of Christina Bunting Mains, the owner of the Townhouse restaurant and bar, are gearing up to help her in the fight of her life — literally. Mains is fighting stage 4 triple negative metastatic breast cancer. Helping with a benefit beginning at 1 p.m. March 31 at the Mingo Knights of Columbus Hall are from left, Cristen Fish, Teddy Nelson, Selena Wells, Bobby Channels, Mains, Jodi Clark, Monique Barbetta and Holly Butera.

MINGO JUNCTION — According to those who know her, Christina Bunting Mains, is not someone to take things lying down.

“If she has an opinion you are going to hear it,” friend Holly Butera said.

So when Mains, who owns the Townhouse Restaurant and Bar with her husband Dave and who fought breast cancer once in 2015, was diagnosed with another form of the cancer last year, she was ready to fight despite the limited prognosis.

“They told (Dave and I) that they could try chemo but if that didn’t work, we should look into hospice,” she said. “Dave said ‘No’ and I said ‘I am not ready to die yet.'”

The Mains started their cancer journey four years ago when Christina was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer. She was able to beat the disease back that time and was in remission for two years.

Late last year, Christina started to feel a pain in her chest. She notified her general doctor who first sent her to have a stress test on her heart and then later thought she might simply have a pulled muscle.

The pain did not go away and then Christina found lumps in her neck. This time the doctors were able to tell her it was indeed cancer. While her original cancer did not return, this was a new type of breast cancer and much worse — triple negative metastatic breast cancer.

“It was in my sternum, breast, lymph nodes and liver,” she explained.

Because the cancer was so advanced and had spread so far, local doctors weren’t optimistic of their options, but Christina and Dave do not take defeat easily.

Dave contacted the Cancer Treatment Centers of America and the couple were off to Chicago to enter a clinical trial that uses both chemotherapy in addition to immunotherapy.

In order to help her with her fight, the Mains’ family, friends and employees have stepped up to help with the costs.

They are hosting “Mingo Musicians Unite” from 2 p.m. until 10 p.m. on March 31.

The event, being held at the Mingo Junction Knights of Columbus Hall, Legion Drive, will feature local music acts like U.S. Kids, Twice as Nice, The Paul Grant Trio, Sandy Pierro, Joe Treglia and Pee’s Freiling.

There will also be dancing, drawings, and food and drink vendors.

For the competitive bunch, they will be hosting a cornhole tournament.

They will also be selling “Chris’ Fight Club” T-shirts and sweatshirt that night.

Friend Monique Barbetta said this is the least they could do for their kindhearted friend.

“We would do it a thousand times over for her,” she said. “Little kids will come in (the Townhouse) dirty and hungry and she feeds them, she gives them little jobs to help sweep up and make money. This is the least we could do for her.”

Butera said similar things about her friend.

“She is big into family and loves little kids,” Butera said. “I know she would do it for all of us.”

“We know this is a financial burden on them,” Barbetta said. “I don’t ever want to see a reason she can’t go (to her treatments.)”

In addition to her husband, friends and employees, Christina said she is supported by her son, a Mingo Junction mail carrier, Steven Miro and her daughter, Chaeli Cooper, who is currently serving the U.S. Air Force.

“I don’t get to see her as much as we would like,” she said.

Admission to the event is $10. For information or make a donation, contact Eric Stoddart at (740) 632-1571.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today