Good News

Through annual Bed Race, Wyoming Area Kiwanis chapter raises funds to assist children with medical problems

October 5, 2009

Racing to aid kids

By Steve Mocarsky smocarsky@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
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EXETER – More than 150 people ran through a parking lot pushing hospital beds on Sunday to raise money to help the family of a sick little girl.

The parking lot of Pride Mobility Products on Susquehanna Avenue was the site of the Wyoming Area Kiwanis’ third annual Bed Race.

Members of the local Kiwanis chapter decided three years ago that they wanted to try to help local children experiencing difficult times medically as a way to fulfill the national club’s motto – “Changing the world, one child at a time,” said Wyoming Area Kiwanis President Bob Orlando.

One of the club members came up with the idea of having hospital bed races. So the members acquired a couple old hospital beds, “stripped the motors off and got them into racing condition,” and the community pitched in through participation, donations and sponsorships, Orlando said.

The first year, the club raised more than $10,000 to assist the family of Mikey Ash, a child from Exeter who was facing multiple disabilities because of a premature birth.

The second year, the bed race raised about $12,000 for the family of 4-year-old Mckenna Granahan, who suffers from Pallister-Killian Syndrome, a disorder similar to Down syndrome. The family didn’t need help with medical bills, Orlando said, but they noted that Mckenna could not use regular playgrounds because she was wheelchair-bound.

So the Kiwanis went to work raising funds for a handicap-accessible playground, which will cost about $90,000. So far, they raised an additional $22,000 for the playground, Orlando said.

The beneficiary of this year’s fundraiser is the family of 6-year-old Madison Lefkoski.

Madison has medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumor that is wrapped around her brain stem, said Rob Wasch, Madison’s stepdad.

Madison underwent surgery at Janet Weis Children’s Hospital at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. After her discharge, daily trips to and from the hospital became a financial hardship, and assistance from the Kiwanis fundraiser “is just fantastic,” Wasch said.

Madison is receiving physical therapy twice a week. “She basically lost all ability to walk and talk. Now she’s re-learning,” Wasch said as his wife, Jessica, looked over at her daughter, who was seated under a tent in a wheelchair.

Caitlin Vitale, a junior at Wyoming Area High School, said she and four of her best friends and classmates – Nicole Gitkos, Lindsey Clarke, Michelle Gitkos and Sydney Engleman – decided to participate in the bed race after a teacher told them about it.

The girls’ time of 40.9 seconds wasn’t enough to get them first-place medals, but just participating made the day worth it.

“It feels good to be here all day and to be able to help them out,” Vitale said.

HOW TO HELP

Donations to help the family of Madison Lefkoski or to help build a handicap-accessible playground in Exeter can be mailed to: Wyoming Area Kiwanis, P.O. Box 4052, Wyoming, Pa. 18644, or call 883-1155 or email bob@orlandosales.net for more information.

Steve Mocarsky, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 970-7311.

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