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Hunting Camps Raise Funds for Youth
Afflicted With Spina Bifida
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Democrat Photo by John Emerson
COOKING FOR LINDSAY: From the left, Hank Keyser, his son Hank, Jr. and Ken Brink serve up scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausage, bacon and hash at the Mahogany Ridge Hunting Camp Sunday morning at a benefit for Lindsay Dollard and her family. Dollard, who was born with spina bifida and has been wheelchair-bound since birth, has been on a respirator at Westchester Medical Center since the Monday following Thanksgiving. The benefit, which was jointly sponsored by Cliff Lodge Hunting Camp and Mahogany Ridge, included participation from many of the hunting camps and was designed to raise money to help offset family expenses for staying close to the hospital.
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By John Emerson
MONTICELLO - February 15, 2000 — Lindsay Dollard and her family weren’t able to attend the pancake breakfast held in her honor Sunday morning at the Mahogany Ridge Hunting Camp near Monticello. Lindsay was busy fighting for her life at Westchester Medical Center.
The young woman, who has spent her life in a wheelchair suffering from spina bifida – a condition where the spinal column never fully closes around the spinal cord – was airlifted to Westchester last year on the Monday following Thanksgiving with severe respiratory problems.
During the last two months, a respirator has done most of her breathing for her. Her family has been at her side constantly and the costs are mounting.
“It was people at Mahogany who had the idea to do a benefit,” said Donna Mulvey, who with husband Mickey are longtime friends of the Dollard family. “[Lindsay’s father] Tim is a member of Cliff Lodge, and we wanted to do something, so we all decided on a pancake breakfast. We’re just overwhelmed with the support and the turnout.”
Sunday’s pancake breakfast was the culmination of weeks of work by volunteers from both Mahogany Ridge and Cliff Lodge hunting camps – and extra help and donations from many other hunting camps and local businesses. A steady stream of people made their way to the hunting camp on Old Liberty Road to spend $5 on breakfast and maybe buy a chance on an ice auger for another $5 or a 50-50 drawing at $1 a ticket. At times, the camp was so crowded people were forced to wait for seats.
Many of the people who came know Lindsay as an upbeat, friendly and loving person who likes to sing and is concerned that the tracheotomy she was given will affect her voice. Some knew other family members, and others came because someone needed help. Mulvey, who had hoped to raise $2,000, estimated that more than double that amount would be raised when it was all over.
“It’s the commodity of love and belonging,” she said. “Mickey and I have known Timmy all of our lives, and he’s a member of Cliff Lodge. When somebody like that is in a jam, everybody comes together to help out. It’s a good feeling.” |
