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Coughlin junior’s project raises more than $800 to fight muscular dystrophy.
WILKES-BARRE – Coughlin High School junior Mike Turner knew he had to complete a senior project to graduate.
His options included community service or completing a project of his choice. Turner, 17, of Hudson, chose to help a whole organization.
With family and friends, along with dozens of bowlers, Turner held a fundraiser Sunday at Chacko’s Family Bowling Center, with proceeds, totaling more than $800, benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
More than 50 people attended the Strike Out Muscular Dystrophy event, more than Turner, and his mother, Deborah Turner, had expected.
“We have a family friend with Lou Gehrig’s disease and another who was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, so I said, ‘Why not do it for them?,’ ” Deborah Turner said.
Coming up with an idea to benefit the organization was easy, since Mike Turner and his friend frequently go bowling.
“More people showed up than expected,” Deborah Turner said. “We reserved 10 lanes and, at the last minute, other people were calling, so we needed another lane.”
Mike Turner said he’d been working on the project since last year, visiting local businesses asking for donations or sponsorships and putting it all together to lead up to Sunday.
“I wanted to do something to help people,” Mike Turner said. “It’s been a lot of work. But it all paid off.”
Mike posted fliers in local restaurants and businesses, and with the help of family and friends, put together nearly 10 baskets to be raffled off during the event, including Penn State and Notre Dame gift baskets.
“I’m very proud of him,” Deborah Turner said. “We had the help of his soccer team and his coach. We had a lot of support.”
Dozens of bowlers gathered around a small table the Turners had set up Sunday, anxiously waiting for their names to be called for gift baskets and gift certificates. Others were awarded prizes for having the highest and lowest bowling score of the day.
Miners Mills Triangle Club, Two Gals Pizza, Luzerne Products Inc. and R.J. Turner Construction sponsored the fundraiser.
“The chance to do something for the community in addition to fulfilling graduation requirements makes the idea of a school project much more exciting,” Turner said.
Turner raised more than $800 from the two-hour event, and was glad that he could help – even just a little bit.