A visit from 'Cruisin for Dialysis' cars

Jun 12, 2007

SunBridge gets a visit from 'Cruisin for Dialysis' cars

Marion Star Staff Report

MARION, OH - The Cruisin' for Dialysis show went on the road last week to carry on with the festivities for a few cool car fans who didn't get to attend the June 2 event.

Members of the group sponsoring the cruise-in, a fund-raiser for the Kidney Dialysis Support Group, showed up at SunBridge Care and Rehabilitation of Marion. They brought five cars to the facility, sort of a thank you to the residents at the place they hold their support group meetings.

"It was really great. Since some of the patients can't go to the show, we thought they'd enjoy it if we brought the cars to them, especially the men," said Jannetta Martin, organizer of the car show held the first weekend of June each year. "But actually, I think the women enjoyed it more."

Shelly Smith, LPN, admissions/marketing director at SunBridge, agreed the residents greatly appreciated Martin and all of her friends who brought their cars for them to see.

Smith gave a special thanks to Beth Barcus at Street Wise Motors, Martin and all of the people of the dialysis support group for making it possible for the residents and their families to have a great time seeing the cars and enjoying the cookout provided by the dietary staff of SunBridge. She also thanked Mona Miller for making all of it possible.

Martin said the attendance for the car show in downtown Marion was down this year, probably attributed to several other events going on around Marion that weekend. The show again attracted more than 300 cars, but attendance affects the proceeds, she said, as they fell short of the $10,000 goal with about $6,500 raised.

Donna Gohring serves as president of the Kidney Dialysis Support Group, which is the beneficiary of proceeds from the show. She explained the support group assists kidney dialysis patients in many ways including paying for prescription medications if they cannot afford them, provide them blankets to keep warm during dialysis, and help with utilities if they face shut off. Gohring said a social worker contacts them once they have determined the need and that help is not available from other sources.

Contact Martin at 740-387-7616 for more information about the fund-raiser or to make a donation to the Kidney Dialysis Support Group that serves more than 150 patients at the Marion and Bucyrus centers.

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