The HDSA Toledo Support group proudly sponsored its first major fundraising benefit "Family Fall Festival for Huntington's Disease - A Benefit in Memory of Michael Lohse" on Saturday, November 19, 2005. VFW Post #3013 in Holland, Ohio graciously donated the use of their hall for our event.

A very hard working committee quickly put together an exciting event. Since the benefit was taking place on the same day as the Ohio State - Michigan football game we arranged for a large screen television to be set up in the hall to broadcast the game for all of the football fans! Those arriving wearing their team colors received a small door prize! We served lots of delicious food including a spaghetti dinner, hot dogs, hot chicken sandwiches, beer and popcorn.

"Muddy" the Toledo Mud Hens baseball team mascot made an appearance and was quite entertaining to young and old. (Take a look at the website: http://www.curehd.com - on the regular main page is a photo taken at our event!) Muddy even tried dancing with the TNT Clog Dancers that performed for us! We were entertained all afternoon by several different wonderful performers and groups: The Jimmy Forrest Family, Bobby May, The Miller Family, Fossil Creek and John Mull.

We held several 50/50 raffle drawings, had 2 Silent Auctions, raffled off dozens of prizes including a whole processed hog, hosted a huge bake sale and offered face painting to all the kids! The support from friends, family and the community was overwhelming - we estimate at over 250 people attended! We were able to realize a profit of $5900.00 for our efforts!

The first idea for the planning of this event was with the passing of long time support group member, Michael Lohse, who lost his battle with HD in September 2004. Jayne McKanna of Bowling Green, Ohio handcrafted a beautiful quilted wall hanging dedicated to Mike and donated for our fundraising efforts. That donation started our plans for the Family Fall Festival. So, in tribute to Mike, our committee purchased the wall hanging and presented it, at the benefit, to Mike's mother, Doris Reinking. Doris has been a supportive part of our group for a very long time! I wish to thank all of the folks who helped make our benefit possible - their dedication and the long hours they invested are so greatly appreciated!

Our committee included: Ruth Harrison, Sherlyn Lulfs, Gloria Forrest, Lorrie Colton, Elaine Vuyk and Cindy Ruffer, along with many, many others! I am truly grateful to all!

Robin VanGorder