Columbia, SC (WLTX) - Project Andy is cooking up some BBQ for a Friday lunch that will not only fill your belly but help a man in Columbia who needs a kidney.
Andy Tevepaugh was at the hospital for treatment on an unrelated infection when the doctor performed a routine blood test.
"I went in on a wednesday morning for the infection thinking 'I'll go ahead and get this taken care of. Nothing to worry about.' I was wrong," said Tevepaugh.
The trip to the hospital changed his life forever.
"Luckily they did blood work for me and my levels were completely off," said Tevepaugh. "I am still waiting on a kidney."
Andy works at Sandy's in downtown Columbia while he waits on a donor match. The medical bills are piling up.
"I do two a day," said Tevepaugh. "The first is a manual mid-day flush which is 45 minutes to an hour. At night, I do an overnight cycling treatment. I have friends and family that have been greatly supportive of my condition and treatment that have stepped up and are getting their paper work done and lab work done to see how close of a match they are to me."
Those friends and family have also cooked a ton of BBQ to sell for lunch on Friday in an effort to raise money for Project Andy. The fund will help ease the burden of the medical bills.
The lunch starts Friday at 11:00 and continues until 7:00 in the evening at Cayce United Methodist Church. Plates have a half chicken, rice, bread, and sweet tea all for $7.00.
Project Andy also has a fund set up at Midlands' NBSC branches.
"I am completely blown away and amazed not only by the support people have given me but the love they've showed to me," said Tevepaugh.