Poker run, walk benefits Joby

Monday, September 10, 2007

Friends and family of Joby Spencer, a Greencastle Middle School student who is battling a very serious and rare disease called Dense Bone Disease, are hosting a blood drive and fundraiser Saturday, Sept. 15 at Greencastle's Robe-Ann Park.

The day will begin with 10 a.m. registration for a Poker Run and car show with the poker run leaving at 11 a.m. Also at 11 a.m. will be registration for a 5K walk-a-thon, to be followed by the walk-a-thon at noon.

From 2-6 p.m., there will be live music provided by Blair Carman and the Belleview Boys, to be followed by 3 p.m. awards for the bike and car show and 4 p.m. Lovely Lady Riders Show.

The public can donate blood to the Indiana Blood Bank from 2-5 p.m., at the park. Funds raised from the bike ride, Walk-A-Thon and car show will go to support Joby's family and the Kid Needs Foundation.

Spencer's family is hoping to collect 50 units of blood, which they say is the typical amount needed for an organ transplant. The following is an excerpt Joby posted on his Myspace website:

"Hi, my name is Joby, I am a 13-year-old boy. I want to bring to your attention about a rare kidney disease called dense deposit disease.

"Only 4 out of 1 million children get this disease. There is no current cure for this disease, only controlling the symptoms. It can take both of your kidneys with in 10 years.

"This is a benefit for my family and the doctor and scientist that is researching this disease. My blood is in Germany, Iowa, and Canada where they are trying very hard to find a cure. There is a foundation that looks at only this disease called Kid Needs Foundation.

"Please join us in our efforts in finding a cure before my kidneys stop working. There is a conference coming up this month in Iowa that hopefully will give new insight on this disease."

The family has set up a fund for Joby at First National Bank, P.O. Box 876, Greencastle, IN 46135.

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