Community comes out en masse to support local resident
 
 FAIRLAWN
— Family and friends came together for bratwurst
and beer at an Octoberfest and raffle to benefit the
Mike Dangel Fund Oct. 19 at St. Hilary Elementary School’s
Horning Hall.
Dangel, of Copley, shown above as he is welcomed to the event with a standing ovation, was diagnosed in 2000 with multiple sclerosis. Once a nationally recognized, award-winning salesman, Dangel has been on full disability for almost four years and continuously struggles with the advanced stages of the disease, according to his family. Proceeds from the event went to making the Dangel’s home 100 percent handicap accessible and to assist with in-home nursing care costs.
The benefit featured a Chinese raffle in which patrons vied for many prizes.
Shown above right, from left, are Bath residents Bev Klein and Beth Richards as they drop raffle tickets into a Chinese raffle bag in hopes of winning “deluxe” Browns tickets. Shown above far right, from left, are Ann Kane, of West Akron; Patti Renner, of Fairlawn; and Kendra Strah, Steve Buzzi and Michele Luecke, all of Copley. The group served as the planning committee for the event. Strah said a large part of the benefit’s success also was due to support shown by the teachers and staff of St. Hilary.
According to Renner, goals for the benefit were to host 200 people, which was greatly surpassed at a recorded attendance of 800. She added donation goals also were surpassed, thanks to those in attendance and hundreds of additional individuals who donated to the fund prior to the event.
Strah added a highlight from the event included a presentation by Don Utrup, who represented numerous donors from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School (Dangel was a St. Vincent High School graduate), and presented a promissory high school scholarship for Dangel’s two children.
Donations can be made to the Mike Dangel Fund at FirstMerit Bank, 2700 W. Market St.; at the St. Hilary Church office, 2750 W. Market St.; or by mailing a donation to Strah, 4417 Regal Drive, Copley, OH 44321. To make a tax-deductible donation, make the check payable to St. Hilary Church — Mike Dangel Fund.
— By Mike D’Agruma
Photos: Ken Crisafi
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