edited from submitted materials
The splash page on the Muscular Dystrophy Association website (mda.org) describes, “the freedom to walk, to talk, to run and play. The freedom to laugh, to hug, to eat – even breathe” as freedoms that are taken away from those who are affected by Muscular Dystrophy, which is a disease that weakens muscle strength and limits mobility.
Mikey Budzinski is someone who knows, all too well, what it is like to lose those freedoms. Mikey is a loving, funny eleven-year-old Clifford Township resident, who has been living with the diagnosis of Muscular Dystrophy (MD) for nearly a decade. His mother, Heather Holmes, describes Mikey as a boy who enjoys Spiderman, Hot Wheels, and dogs as well as being someone who loves to give out some of the best hugs in the area.
She also goes on to describe her heartbreak as she watches Mikey desperately trying to keep up with the other children as they run. And then Heather talks about how often Mikey falls as he tries to do what should be an every-day activity, like walking.
Although Mikey still retains a small degree of mobility, his ability to use an electric wheelchair does a great deal to enhance his independence. Able to propel himself, he can easily keep up with other children and does not have to wait for someone to help him up from yet another fall.
However, Mikey is currently only able to utilize that electric wheelchair during the hours he is attends school at Mountain View Elementary. Due to their lack of a wheelchair accessible vehicle, Mikey’s family is forced to leave his motorized wheelchair at school overnight and on weekends, when Mikey is subjected, once again, to his limited degree of personal mobility or his mother’s ability to heft his ever-growing body up, into their truck. Their current routine is physically and emotionally exhausting to both Mikey and his mother. as Mikey is either forced to wait on others or forces others to patiently wait for him
Insurance has denied his family’s application for a wheelchair accessible vehicle, so they’re reaching out to their community for help. In this ever-changing economy, even a used wheelchair accessible vehicle costs more than $50,000. To make Mikey’s dream of adventure and independence possible, his family is hosting a Smiles for Mikey Benefit: Pasta Dinner.
This Pasta Dinner will be held on Saturday, May 21, from 4 to 9 p.m. at the 606 Club located at 606 Alder Street, Scranton, PA 18505. Tickets are priced at $10 per Adult and $5 per Child. The event is available in Take-Out or Dine-In format and includes a meal of pasta and a salad, drinks, music, basket and 50/50 raffles, and a meet & greet with the star of the event, Mikey Budzinski. Tickets may be purchased in advance or at the door.
Green ribbons represent Muscular Dystrophy (MD) advocacy. As an additional means of raising funds towards their purchase of a wheelchair accessible vehicle, Mikey’s family is selling handmade, crocheted green hair ties (3/$5) or MD (green) advocacy ribbon key chains bearing Mikey’s name at $5 each.
For more information or to purchase tickets to the Pasta Dinner, hair ties, or ribbon keychains, email Heather Holmes (Mikey’s mother) at BenefitMikey11@gmail.com or visit @SmilesForMikey on Facebook. Ticket payments or donations can be made via the CashApp at $SmilesForMikey. Mikey’s family is also gratefully accepting raffle basket donations for their May 21 Pasta Dinner.