Bowling benefit to help local family
Shirley Rankin knew if she had to hold a fundraiser for her son David “DA” Rankin, who has early onset atypical Parkinson’s disease, it should be centered around something he loved.
“This is something I never thought we’d have to do,” she said of the fundraiser planning. “He was an avid bowler, he’d go three or four nights a week. He’d score 300s.”
The Strike out for DA Bowling Benefit, taking place Aug. 27, is the first fundraiser to help support DA and his family following his diagnosis.
In addition to bowling at Sherwood Lanes in Lyndora, 11 Lyn-Mar Plaza, the event will have a bake sale and raffles.
Shirley said her son’s symptoms began with shaky hands.
“He thought he just needed to eat something. Then the tremors were getting worse and wouldn’t go away,” she said. “A neurologist convinced him to get a DaTscan on his 29th birthday. Two days later, St. Patrick’s Day, he got diagnosed.”
Parkinson’s is a progressive disease where nerve cells break down, causing tremors and rigid muscles and slowed movement, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Shirley said given his tremors, DA lost his job as a machinist.
“They kept hanging on for a long time, waiting to see if medication could help, but they couldn’t have him with any tremors,” she said. “It’s tough because they were good to him, he loved and was good at his job.”
Shortly after losing his medical insurance, he was unable to attend an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic for an evaluation to help his symptoms.
Overall, Shirley said DA and his family have tried to be lighthearted in the midst of the situation, and despite everything, he still bowls occasionally.
“Some days it’s really hard,” Shirley said. “He and his girlfriend have tried to keep a sense of humor about things. One day they were unloading groceries and he shook really bad and dropped a carton of eggs on the floor. I can’t remember which of them said it, but someone said, ‘If you wanted scrambled eggs, here they are.’”
Shirley said there is already talk of holding a bigger fundraiser for her son’s family in the fall.
“This is to help out a local family in need with their bills and through this difficult time,” she said. “All (DA) wants to do is support his family and he can’t do that right now.”
The “Strike out for DA” bowling benefit is planned from 4 to 7 p.m. Aug. 27 at Sherwood Lanes, 11 Lyn-Mar Plaza, Lyndora. One ticket includes a six player lane, three hours of bowling and shoes. For more information, email Strikeoutfordabenefit@gmail.com or call at 724-822-1875.
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