Wheel-A-Thon Readys for 22nd Year of Promoting Disability Awareness

Looking for a hands-on opportunity to promote disability awareness? Marion Goodwill’s 22nd Annual Wheel-A-Thon is Saturday, May 19th at the Tri-Rivers Career Center parking lot located at 2222 Marion-Mt. Gilead Road.

For over 20 years now, the event has welcomed all members of the community to show their support for Goodwill and their mission to assist individuals with disabilities and other barriers find employment. The Wheel-A-Thon features a wheelchair relay race, 50/50 raffle, auction of donated items from notable community patrons, and spaghetti dinner from the Warehouse.

Events for the Wheel-A-Thon kick off at 9:30 a.m. with team registration. The wheelchair races begin at 10:00 a.m. and continue until one team is declared the big winner. The wheelchair race is a fun learning experience as three-person teams from various businesses, organizations, and schools discover how difficult it is to maneuver a wheelchair and make it move the way you want.

Throughout the event, racers and spectators can enjoy the auction and 50/50 raffle, both additional fundraisers for Goodwill. The grand finale will be the auction featuring items donated from local businesses. This year promises to deliver some intense bidding as there will be a small appliance package from Whirlpool, a lady’s 14K white gold heart shaped ring with diamond melee from Carroll’s Jewelers, a seven night timeshare, an OSU quilt from Stitch ‘n Fix, children’s birthday party from bluefusion entertainment, YMCA membership, gift certificates from local restaurants and much more!

The spaghetti dinner sponsored by The Warehouse will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Adult spaghetti dinner tickets are $5.00 and children are $3.00. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Marion Goodwill Retail Store located at 1637 Marion Mt. Gilead Road and at the Corporate Office/Attended Donation Center at 340 W. Fairground Street. Tickets will also be available at the event.

Wheelchair owners will want to take advantage of the Wheelchair Round-Up offered by Marion Area Physical Therapy, who will once again be providing their services from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The Wheelchair Round-Up features a mobility station to make minor repairs and consultations to wheelchairs, free of charge. Each chair will receive a “tune-up”, which includes a power wash, complete inspection, and repairs.

Goodwill will also be accepting wheelchair donations on behalf of Wheels for the World, an internationally recognized organization, which collects and distributes wheelchairs to disabled individuals in need. If you would like to donate a gently used wheelchair, you can bring them to the Wheel-A-Thon or to a Goodwill store near you.

For additional information about the event, including how you or your business can form a team for the races, sponsor a team, or donate an auction item, contact Kathy Wink at (740)387-7023. Again, the event is open to the public, no RSVP necessary for spectators.

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