Benefit bowls a perfect game
Friends and family flaunted their best spares and strikes Saturday to benefit David “DA” Rankin, who was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s disease this year.
The Strike Out for DA Bowling benefit fostered friendly competition and a chance to support Rankin and his family at Sherwood Lanes bowling alley in Lyndora.
Shirley Rankin, DA’s mother, said more than a dozen teams signed up for a lane before the event began, and she expected more to show.
“Some people donated and didn’t bowl, there were over 40 raffle baskets donated, baked goods from bakeries and just people chipping in,” she said. “We just can’t thank them enough, I’ve been amazed by people I know and don’t know.”
DA’s love of bowling sparked the event, and he bowled a strike on his first roll.
Following his diagnosis of Parkinson’s in March, the 29-year-old’s symptoms progressed, Shirley said. The progressive disease breaks down nerve cells, causing tremors and rigid muscles and slowed movement, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Shortly after being let go from his job and losing medical insurance, DA was unable to attend an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic for a procedure, his girlfriend, Courtney Toyama, said.
“You have to have insurance for the deep-brain stimulation procedure. We’re stuck in the red tape right now,” she said. “When (Parkinson’s) cost him his job, I got two jobs.”
Teams of six crowded the lanes for the cause. One team included Barbara LeGrand, of Chicora, and Pam Bercury, of Butler.
“I’ve been bowling for 25 years,” LeGrand said. “The best part is the family getting together to bowl. My sons are with me, and it’s for a great cause.”
Bercury said the best part of the day was not her score, though she has been bowling for five years.
“It’s for a good cause. I don’t know the Rankins, but I know of them, so I came,” she said.
Marge Hetrick, of Renfrew, said she helped with the event because she wanted to support the family. She was DA’s babysitter.
“I babysat DA when he was younger. I found out about (his diagnosis), and I said ‘we need to do something,’” she said. “What would make me happy is if he could get the insurance for the operation at Cleveland Clinic.”
Before the event even started, Shirley said almost $1,500 was raised to help her son. Another benefit, a spaghetti dinner on Dec. 4, is already in the works and she encouraged people to watch for details.
“The support we’ve gotten has blown me away,” she said. “Thank you so much for your generosity and helping out.”
