Murrieta 23-Year-Old Loses Battle With Disease

A benefit is scheduled to raise money for the family of a Murrieta Valley High School graduate who died last week after losing a lifelong battle with sickle cell anemia.

Joshua Wethers, 23, died of complications from the disease Feb. 6 after he was hospitalized Jan. 30.

Wethers' mother, Tammy Hunter-Wethers, is the interim principal at . Dawn Armstrong, a teacher at the school, said she and several others wanted to do something to show their support.

"The community just wants to come together to help," Armstrong said. "She has worked at so many schools."

They have organized a fundraiser to be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at The restaurant will donate 20 percent of proceeds to help pay for Wethers' funeral arrangements. In addition, there will be a donation prize wheel from which 100 percent of proceeds will be given to the family, Armstrong said.

Wethers worked at Best Buy in Murrieta and was a student at Cal State San Marcos. He grew up attending Murrieta Elementary, Thompson Middle School and Murrieta Valley, and was active with the Murrieta Youth Basketball League.

Services are scheduled for Thursday and Friday. A tribute to Wethers written by his family can be viewed on the Murrieta Valley Funeral Home's website.

For more information about the fundraising effort, contact Dawn Armstrong via email at dawna515@aol.com.