What could be better than ice cream, antique cars and motor-cycles on a late summer afternoon? How about raising money for a good cause, too?
From 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 26, Takacs Family Ice Cream at 129 W. High St. in London will host a cruise-in to help London resident Liz Blakeslee and her family raise money for the ALS Association.
People who have ALS (amyo-trophic lateral sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, lose their ability to walk, speak, swallow and breathe. The neuromuscular disease is progressive and fatal.
“My father, Jim, was diagnosed with ALS in 2004 and he died on Sept. 6, 2005,” said Blakeslee. “Since then, my sister (Anne Slifer of Columbus) and I have been involved in the annual Walk To D’Feet ALS in Columbus.”
Over the past three years, the sisters and their families have raised nearly $15,000 for the ALS Association. Blakeslee and Slifer are the family co-chairs for this year’s walk in Columbus, which is scheduled for Sept. 16.
The money they raise goes toward research, patient education pro-grams, support groups, equipment loan programs, referrals to ALS clinics and physicians, and locally and nationally directed advocacy programs.
For the cruise-in fundraiser on Aug. 26, there is no charge to display a car or motorcycle. Money will be raised through donations, ice cream shop sales, and a raffle, which will feature two Ohio State University football tickets, gift certificates to Max & Erma’s, Dave & Busters, and the Red Brick Tavern, and other prizes.
“This is just a cause that’s become very important to me and my whole family,” Blakeslee said.
Jim Blakeslee was well-known in the London community. He served for 13 years on the Madison County/London City Board of Health and was active in the London Kiwanis Club and First United Methodist Church.
For more information about the ALS Association, go to www.alsohio.org or call 1-866-273-2572.
