Steve Baker Foundation - Fundraising Event
One of the final requests Steve Baker made to his family before his death was that they start a foundation to battle Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease), the disease that claimed his life in October 2004.
In January 2006, Steve Baker's family officially started the Steve Baker Foundation for ALS, a nonprofit agency aimed at providing funds for ALS research and helping those suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease.
The Steve Baker Foundation held its first fundraiser Saturday at Highland Park Bowl in Moline.
Pam Corry of Davenport was among those attending and was asked why she supports this cause. Corry said, “Because I don’t believe ALS is any closer to being solved than when Lou Gehrig got it. It’s a death sentence. Nobody survives it.”
In addition to the scores of concerned Quad-City residents who came to support them, the Baker family is a party in and of itself. Merwin and Margaret Baker have 11 children and a family tree growing ever larger with spouses, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, many of whom showed their support Saturday.
Supporters at the event enjoyed music, line dancing lessons, spicy food, a table overflowing with bake sale items and a raffle. Each raffle prize included several different items, including everything from a Tiffany lamp to handmade rosaries, and most came along with some kind of free pizza.
When Allen was going to local businesses and seeking donations for the fundraiser, she was surprised by the number of people she encountered who had been touched by the disease.
“I would go into places and so many people would say, ‘My best friend is diagnosed with ALS,’ or ‘My husband has it.’ So it’s more prevalent than you think. You think this disease is so obscure, but not anymore,” she said.
As this fundraiser ended, plans for future fundraising events are in the works. The Bakers aren’t anywhere close to being done with the fight against ALS and plan to raise more money for ALS research and patient care in the coming years.
“This is a cause for us, one we’re trying to work hard for. It’s a way to remember Steve and to help others like him,” Allen said.
In January 2006, Steve Baker's family officially started the Steve Baker Foundation for ALS, a nonprofit agency aimed at providing funds for ALS research and helping those suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease.
The Steve Baker Foundation held its first fundraiser Saturday at Highland Park Bowl in Moline.
Pam Corry of Davenport was among those attending and was asked why she supports this cause. Corry said, “Because I don’t believe ALS is any closer to being solved than when Lou Gehrig got it. It’s a death sentence. Nobody survives it.”
In addition to the scores of concerned Quad-City residents who came to support them, the Baker family is a party in and of itself. Merwin and Margaret Baker have 11 children and a family tree growing ever larger with spouses, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, many of whom showed their support Saturday.
Supporters at the event enjoyed music, line dancing lessons, spicy food, a table overflowing with bake sale items and a raffle. Each raffle prize included several different items, including everything from a Tiffany lamp to handmade rosaries, and most came along with some kind of free pizza.
When Allen was going to local businesses and seeking donations for the fundraiser, she was surprised by the number of people she encountered who had been touched by the disease.
“I would go into places and so many people would say, ‘My best friend is diagnosed with ALS,’ or ‘My husband has it.’ So it’s more prevalent than you think. You think this disease is so obscure, but not anymore,” she said.
As this fundraiser ended, plans for future fundraising events are in the works. The Bakers aren’t anywhere close to being done with the fight against ALS and plan to raise more money for ALS research and patient care in the coming years.
“This is a cause for us, one we’re trying to work hard for. It’s a way to remember Steve and to help others like him,” Allen said.
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