The McClay family of Washington set an ambitious personal goal to raise $10,000 for Dr. Keirstead’s research through the Unite For The Cure campaign. Not only did they reach this formidable goal, they surpassed it — with one event!!! Here is what Rozie McClay, mom to darling Kiley, SMA Type II, had to say about their fun and successful fundraiser:
The Unite for the Cure Spaghetti Feed was an amazing event. Our family and friends went above and far beyond the call of duty. The community support we received warmed our hearts. We had auction items and raffle items including Cabela’s camping gear, spa baskets and mixing bowls with all the goodies to make cookies! We had table service with a smile, delivering delicious plates of spaghetti, garlic bread and salad. A side table overflowed with homemade cookies, brownies, and cheesecake. The kids enjoyed a craft table where they were able to make turkeys and color Christmas ornaments. We had wine tasting of our very own Unite for the Cure Pomegranate Zinfandel featuring Kiley’s picture on the label. At the end of the day, we were able to send in more than $11,000.00 to add the incredible efforts of everyone involved with Unite for the Cure. Bring on those human clinical trials!
We know this event did not happen without a lot of hard work and we are so glad it was such a fun and positive experience. Way to go McClay family and congratulations!!!
In addition to the funds raised during the spaghetti event, Shelley and Marshall Eisenberg, aunt and uncle to Kiley McClay, have personally donated $5,000 to the Unite For The Cure campaign for Dr. Keirstead’s SMA research. And this is why:
When my brother and sister-in-law, Steve and Rozie McClay, told us their beautiful daughter Kiley had a disease called Spinal Muscual Atrophy we were devastated. It seemed unreal. Like any large family, ours had it’s share of ups and downs, but mostly ups. This was different. We were unsure how we could console Steve and Rozie. We knew their pain and sorrow would need time and space and we felt helpless. They had just closed on a new house that needed some work. We got busy. Along with some of their friends, our family helped paint the inside of their new home so they could move in. It felt good to know that we were involved in something that could really help. When we found out about Unite For The Cure and how Dr. Keirstead needed gap funding for his research we knew we needed to get busy again. We knew we needed to be part of raising money for this. We knew in our bones that Dr. Keirstead’s motor neuron replacement trials were the best hope for a cure and we knew the time was now.
With only a little over a month to plan, we raised $11,691.00 (with more on the way) by hosting a spaghetti feed/raffle/auction fund raiser, from donations from friends, family and caring strangers and from donations from a host of amazing retail establishments. My husband Marshall and I donated an extra $5,000.00 in addtion to the fund raising monies for a total of $16,691.00! We had been waiting for the right time to donate to an SMA cause on behalf of a very generous individual, Artemis Joukowski, and on behalf of Kiley McClay. Without question, Unite For The Cure was the venue we had been waiting for!
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This whole experience has been so uplifitng to our family and friends. Thank you Strong family, Families of SMA and everyone who helped us reach above and beyond our goal, giving us such hope for a cure. You mean the world to us. And last, but not least, thank you to Dr. Keirstead, without who’s intelligence, caring, and dedication, none of this would be possible.
Warmest Wishes,
Shelley and Marshall Eisenberg
$16,691 to accelerate Dr. Keirstead’s research — amazing!!! Enormous congratulations to the entire McClay team!!! And thank you!!!
