Wednesday Dinner To Help 34-Year-Old Quad-Cities Plumber Battling a Brain Tumor
A special and urgently needed Community Thanksgiving Dinner will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 26, from noon to 4 p.m., hosted by Spectrum Pub at 117 S. East St., Suite 1, Cambridge, Ill.
Guests are welcome to enjoy a full Thanksgiving meal with all the traditional fixings, including turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, corn casserole, and pumpkin pie. The meal will be offered for a free-will donation, with 100% of proceeds benefiting Charles Odeen, a Cambridge plumber who completed all of the plumbing work at The Spectrum Pub, enabling its opening in early October.
Charles, 34, was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor (stage 4 cancer) and is currently traveling to Mayo Clinic for weekly chemotherapy and radiation treatments. This event aims to support Charles and his family during this challenging time and to recognize his meaningful contributions to the community.
Chuck Odeen (second from left), with his daughter Taylor (right) and two of her friends.
In addition to the meal, The Spectrum Pub is organizing a raffle to further support the Odeen family. Anyone wishing to donate raffle items or seeking more information about the event is encouraged to contact The Spectrum Pub at 309- 937-2025 or thespectrumpub@gmail.com.
A GoFundMe page started to help Odeen and his family has raised $6,655 so far, noting before this life-altering obstacle, Chuck had just taken the brave step of starting his own company, “working tirelessly to build a better life for himself and his loved ones. Now, as he faces this unexpected health challenge, he’s not only battling for his health but also trying to keep his household and business afloat,” the site says.
“If you know Charles, you know he’s the type of person who would give you the shirt off his back. He’s always the first to lend a hand, share a laugh, and help anyone in need — no questions asked. Now it’s our turn to take care of him the way he’s always cared for others,” the page says.
Chris Thompson, Spectrum Pub owner, said recently that Odeen has been doing plumbing work for him for over three years, and lives right down the street from Thompson.
Odeen with local students.
“He and his daughter Taylor have always been showing up on jobsites together, and she was always right by his side helping him out with whatever she could. Chuck has always been willing to help out with anything he could,” the Spectrum Pub owner said by email. “He did all the plumbing work in my house, put in a new water service at my house, and he did all of the plumbing work at the Spectrum Pub and Hangout Arcade, which are my businesses in Cambridge.
“Before he could even finish all of the plumbing at the Pub, he had some medical issues and they found a tumor in his brain,” Thompson noted.
“Chuck is a very hard worker. He would be at my building all hours of the night working, and Taylor was usually right there with him if it wasn’t a school night,” he said. “He worked for Local 25 as a plumber for years, and decided to go out on his own in October of ‘24. But, no matter how busy he was or what he was doing, he always made time for Taylor. Whether it was taking her or picking her up from school, or attending her sporting events, he always has the time for his family.”
Chuck Odeen renovated his Cambridge barn for a basketball court, for local kids to play.
Thompson has lived in Cambridge for over 30 years, and Cambridge is a small community.
“We all have to stick together and help one another when we can. It’s true, my business is just getting started, and I’m sure many other small business owners know what I’m going through with that right now, but I wanted to use my business for something good to help someone else, especially someone who has helped me out so many times,” he said.
“Kind of like a pay-it-forward type of thing I guess you could say. Chuck has always been there when I needed him, and people are starting to recognize my business, so I figured why not use that and do something there for Chuck?” Thompson said.
The Spectrum Pub opened in early October across from the Henry County Courthouse in Cambridge.
The Spectrum is located across from the Henry County Courthouse and College Square Park.
At the Wednesday dinner, they will have a few donated items for a silent auction, as well as a 50/50 drawing. All the proceeds from the luncheon, auction and drawings will go to Chuck to help out with his medical bills.
Since Chuck is self-employed and just started his business last year, he does not have any medical insurance.
“My hope is to get the word out there about Chuck’s current predicament. I know he has done a lot of work in the Quad Cities, and has worked for a lot of different people from all over the area,” Thompson said. “I’m hoping that the people whose lives he has touched see this and are able to find it in their hearts to help out a single father with no medical insurance.
“And I know, there are so many other people who have similar situations, and there are many other people who need help too, but I’m just trying to help a friend in need and I wanted to cast as wide of a net as I possibly could to do that.”
Please consider donating what you can. If you’re unable to attend or give, please share this page to help spread the word.
Charles Odeen, 34, is a plumber battling brain cancer, pictured with his 14-year-old daughter Taylor.
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