For diseases without current, known cures, money for research is everything. One local event took this idea seriously and raised thousands to go towards research to find a cure for multiple sclerosis (MS).
On September 20, Spa Mortiz in Tampa Palms hosted a fund-raising event to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS), put together by long-time former Hunter’s Green resident Bonnie Bishop, whose husband Bob suffers from the disease.
“The event was spectacular,” Bishop says. “It went very well.”
Bishop says that more than 125 people showed up to the event at Spa Moritz, which is located off Commerce Park Blvd. It included drinks, food from Stonewood Grill & Tavern (also in Tampa Palms), a silent auction and complimentary spa services. All that was asked of attendees was a $15 donation to NMSS.
“We raised more than $3,000,” Bishops explains. “Some people came from as close as Tampa and some from as far away as Hudson. We also had people come out from 15 different MS support groups.”
Bishop says that one of the big surprises was an appearance by former Tampa Bay Lightning captain and longtime New Tampa resident Dave Andreychuk, who is now the team’s “VP of Fans,” and his wife Sue. Although Bishop says that the Andreychuks are family friends and have always helped raise money and awareness for MS, she didn’t expect them to come out, much less donate a pair of Lightning hockey gloves that he signed that were sold in the auction for more than $500. She says that a pair of Lightning tickets also were sold at the auction.
“The Lightning really came through for us,” she says.
Bishop adds that she already is hard at work in the early stages of organizing an MS golf tournament for sometime next spring.
Of her fund-raising efforts, she says, “I do it for Bob. But, we like to try to make a difference.”
For more information about the planned golf tournament, or to get involved, email Bonnie at BfromBos@aol.com
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