Spaghetti Dinner to Benefit Local Police Officer and School Teacher

Ed Cross, a 31-year veteran police officer, and his wife, Linda Cross, a teacher for more than 20 years, are at home attempting to recover after both were admitted to the hospital in September for unrelated illnesses, according to organizers of a spaghetti dinner benefit for the Crosses.

Ed Cross rushed his wife of 30 years to the hospital on Sept. 24 due to complications of a possible stroke. While she was in the hospital, Ed Cross also became ill and was taken to the hospital, where doctors found a mass growing inside his colon. The doctors determined that the mass was cancer. Cross was in and out of the hospital as he underwent chemotherapy treatments, had a colostomy, and was treated for two pulmonary embolisms.

Ed Cross has worked for , and police departments and is an Air Force Reserves veteran. He and his wife are both veterans of the Valley Ambulance Authority. Proceeds from Saturday's spaghetti dinner will benefit the two, who have suffered a financial burden and are in need of assistance.

Doors open at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Moon Area High School cafeteria. The spaghetti dinner will be served from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Cost is $10 for adults and $6 for children 5-12; free for children 4 and under with an adult purchase. Dinner includes pasta, sauce, bread, salad, dessert and a beverage.

The dinner is being prepared by  in Leetsdale, and desserts by  in Sewickley. The event also includes a Chinese auction, 50-50 raffle, children's activities and door prizes.

The Leetsdale and Leet Township police departments have teamed up with theWestern Pennsylvania Police Benevolent Foundation (WPPBF) and the Steel Valley Lodge.

If you can’t make it Saturday but would still like to help, donations can be sent to Western Pennsylvania Police Benevolent Foundation, P.O. Box 444, South Park, PA, 15129, or call Richard Griffith at 412-296-1437 or Daniel Burns at 412-403-4174.