A blood drive and fundraiser were held in Mastic Saturday to help pay for the rising medical costs of a newborn severely beaten allegedly by her father.

Three-month-old Evelynn Marie Biondo, of Mastic, nearly died in June after police say 20-year-old Joshua Cohen brutally beat and shook her. Now, Evelynn's 16-year-old mother, Alicia, must deal with the pain of watching her daughter struggle with brain damage and loss of vision and muscle tone.

To help ease the financial burden of the baby?s mounting medical bills, her grandfather, Anthony Biondo, organized a blood drive and fundraiser in Evelynn's honor. In addition to raising money for the baby?s care, the Biondo's also hope to raise awareness about the importance of donating blood. The baby received a life-saving blood transfusion while she was at Stony Brook Hospital.

Several fundraisers, including a bike and rod rally, are planned for the weekend to help baby Evelynn. Alicia Biondo says the community's generosity will make a big difference in her little girl's long road to recovery.

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