Tickets now available for Dialysis Services' Valentine's DanceWednesday, December 19, 2007
By Earl Horlyk
Want to listen to some good ol' time and rock and roll with your sweetie while supporting a good cause?
That's why Steve Ohm came up with the idea to have a Valentine's Dance featuring the Iowa Rock N Roll Hall of Famers the Magnificent Board of Directors with the proceeds going towards the Le Mars Area Dialysis Services.
"The Board of Directors are a terrific band," Ohms enthuses, "and we thought it would be fun to have them do a show for us."
The 2008 Valentine's Dance will take place from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 15, 2008. Hors d'oeuvres will be donated by Hy-Vee, Fareway and Timmy's Catering, all of Le Mars.
According to the dialysis services' board member Mike Donlin, tickets were first given to the families of dialysis patients.
"We wanted to make sure they got first dibs on the tickets," he explains. "But now, the general public can purchase tickets for the event as well."
Tickets for the Valentine's Dance are available by calling any of the Le Mars Area Dialysis Service board members or by calling (712) 546-3492.
"With a minimum donation of $25," Donlin adds, "there is also a chance to win a 42 inch HDTV, with the drawing for the TV taking place at the dance. Other events will include a quilt raffle and a small auction of gifts donated by the friends of the dialysis project.
A non-profit community-based organization. Le Mars Area Dialysis Services was established for the purpose of bringing a dialysis center to Plymouth County.
"Having such a facility located here in Le Mars," Donlin says, "would help not only the patient whose life depends on (kidney dialysis treatment), but also their friends and loved ones who would need to transport the patient for their treatment, which takes at least four hours, three times a week."
The dialysis services board is made up of people from the community who would like to help to make a positive impact on the lives of these people.
And Steve Ohm has been the board since its inception.
"The preliminary estimates for beginning a dialysis services were approximately $800,000," he notes. "We're making progress but we're still away from reaching our goal."
Donlin says the dialysis services has approximately $339,000 of their $800,000 goal.
"This is always a tough time to be asking for money," Ohm contends, "but this is such a worthwhile cause, we want the public to know there is still a need for such a facility and we're still out there, raising funds to turn this dream into a reality."
He also thinks bringing the Sioux City-based Magnificent Board of Directors will bring a certain cache to the fundraiser.
"The Board of Directors have a huge local following," Ohm adds. "They've played Le Mars in the past and people always get a kick out of it."
He also hopes that the group's celebrity will bring a greater awareness to the importance of his cause.
"We are so appreciative of the people who've been generous with us in the past," Ohm explains. "This will give them another chance to help us meet our challenge."
If you would like to learn more about the Le Mars Kidney Dialysis Services, or if you would like to make a donation, contact a board member (Kirk Klohs -- 546-9550, James George -- 546-4704, Randy Reardon -- 546-5531, Steve Ohm -- 546-5117, and Mike Donlin -- 546-3492) or mail a donation to the Le Mars Area Dialysis Services, Post Office Box 10, Le Mars, Iowa 51031.
http://www.lemarssentinel.com/story/print/1298655.html