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MDA fundraiser raises two grand

July 30, 2007|Randall Patrick

Matt Westerdale is in a wheelchair, but he's a fighter. And over the weekend, he had a lot of folks in his corner.

Westerdale, who has had muscular dystrophy since childhood, has been active in Jerry Lewis Telethons and other Muscular Dystrophy Association events. This summer, he decided to organize his own fundraiser for MDA at St. Joseph Catholic Church's fellowship hall.

The event was held from 7 to 11 Saturday night and was attended by about 50 or 60 people at one time.

Guests were charged $15 admission, and the event raised "right about two thousand dollars," Westerdale said Sunday.

"I think it went really good," he said. "With it being the first one, I would have been happy to raise one thousand."

Westerdale said the event might have done even better if he hadn't scheduled it on the opening night of the Clark County Fair, but he didn't know when the fair was, and he'll know better next time.

Still, he was pleased with the turnout and the contributions.

"I think everybody had a good time," his mother, Mary Ann Westerdale, said.

The Night to Fight Muscular Dystrophy had a University of Kentucky athletics theme, and many of the guests were dressed in blue UK gear. There was a DJ who played mostly rock and R&B, and an emcee who announced contests. There were games, including a cornhole tournament, a silent auction, door prizes and plenty of food, including beer cheese, vegetables, brownies and Ale 8 One.

Will Henry, 6, provided entertainment at the beginning of the event by clogging.

Later in the evening, there was a karaoke contest, and Westerdale participated himself, singing along with Bob Seger on "Old Time Rock 'n' Roll."

"It was a lot of fun," he said.

Westerdale said he appreciated the businesses who contributed items for door prizes, and others who supported the fundraiser. He hopes to make it an annual event.

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