'Fun Day' in Daly City for disabled children, adults

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Aug 5, 2005

The BAY Area Knights of Columbus Foundation and Serra Bowl will come together from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday for the 12th Annual "Fun Day" held at Serra Bowl, 3301 Junipero Serra Blvd., Daly City, for children and adults with disabilities.

"We are so thankful to the Bay Area KOC and Serra Bowl for providing bowling, arcade games, lunch and karaoke music at no cost to children and adults with developmental disabilities in the Bay Area," said Cindy Blackstone, director of Recreational Services for The Janet Pomeroy Center, which has taken part in the event for 11 years. "Serra Bowl is accessible, so individuals who use wheelchairs can also participate."

Uniformed police and fire personnel from the Broadmoor, Colma and Daly City departments will volunteer their time to ensure everyone has a safe and fun day. At the end of the event, all participants will be given trophies and ribbons.

"Serra Bowl has hosted Fun Day for 12 years," said Craig Pearsall, general manager. "It is the most rewarding and fulfilling day for the volunteers, families, and participants."

To participate in or donate to Fun Day, call KOC Foundation at (415) 665-7200.

MUTT STRUTT -- The Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA's 11th Annual "Mutt Strutt" dog walk and fund-raiser for people and their dogs is Aug. 20 at Coyote Point Park, 1701 Coyote Point Drive in San Mateo. Registration and festivities begin at 9 a.m.; the walk, 11 a.m. Free parking.

This year's event is being presented by See's Candies; other lead sponsors include PETCO and PETCO Foundation. This is the only day of the year when dogs are allowed in Coyote Point Park. The Mutt Strutt courses, 3K or a shorter 1K for older dogs and people, wind through the park.

Registration is $26 per person through Aug. 12 ($28 on-line) and $30 from Aug. 13 to Aug. 20. Each registrant is allowed to walk just one dog and is encouraged to collect $100 in pledges for PHS/SPCA shelter animals.

Walkers should arrive well before 11 a.m. to register and enjoy pre-walk festivities -- pet-related booths and police K9 and other dog demonstrations -- and enter their dog in contests. After the walk, PHS/SPCA will draw raffle prizes and announce the top strutters -- the dog-people pairs who raised the most funds through pledges.

Grand Marshal Frank Somerville, KTVU Channel 2 news anchor and an animal lover, will help judge pre-walk canine contests such as "Best Kisser" and "Most Talented" (entry fee $5 for both), start the walk, and honor the top fund-raisers.

Prizes will be given to those who reach the $100, $200, $300, $400, $500 and $600 pledge levels; the top fund-raiser will receive a one-night stay at the Stanford Inn in Mendocino, a spotlight in the PHS/SPCA newsletter, and will be an official starter for next year's walk.

For more details or to register, call 340-7022, ext. 375, or visit http://www.phs-spca.org. Online registrants will automatically enter a drawing for a Sony CD/DVD player.

SAFE BOATING -- The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla is from 1 to 5 p.m. at Oyster Point in South San Francisco.

Safe boating classes are offered Thursdays, except Thanksgiving, from Aug. 25 to Dec. 1, 7 to 9 p.m. at South San Francisco Adult School, 825 Southwood Drive, Room 51, in SSF.

Registration is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 22, also in Room 51, SSF Adult School.

Classes are free; manuals and study material are $50. For more class details, call Frank Sullivan at 343-6315, Larry Draper at (925) 325-2623, Flotilla Commander Art Park at (415) 665-7222 or Brian Tokumoto at 591-9384.

LIFE BLOOD -- Angela Keane, mother of 2-year-old Morgan Faith Keane, who was born with a chamber of her heart missing, addressed more than 130 blood donors and guests at the 2005 Blood Centers of the Pacific Whole Blood & Apheresis Recognition Brunch, recounting how Morgan's survival would not be possible without the gift of blood.

Angela's talk, and a video shown of her daughter's first two years, highlighted the July 9 event, emceed by Director of Recruitment Don Burghardt at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Burlingame.

"Morgan became a blood recipient within days of her birth," said Angela of Alameda, whose husband, Dan, is in the U.S. Coast Guard. "She has needed blood through her three open-heart surgeries, one abdominal surgery and two cardiac catheterizations during her first year of life.

"I can't tell you how many units of blood Morgan has received in her short life, but I will tell you this ... I am paralyzed with gratitude every time I see the bag hanging there. I try to imagine what the person who donated it would think, knowing they were saving our beautiful little girl. Just five weeks ago, Morgan was again in for another surgery. Her prognosis is unknown, but her future is full of hope."

A total of 92 blood donors were recognized for achieving various milestones in 2004. The top donors, both from Pacifica, were George Brownell who donated 25 gallons (200 pints) and James Pommier, 20 gallons (160 pints).

Also, 25 apheresis donors were honored for reaching various milestones in 2004. The top donor was Vincent Jones of South San Francisco, who gave 300 components. In second place were Brian Baesler and Brian Walker, both of Burlingame; Roger Harrison of Moss Beach; and Russell Polstin of Napa, who all donated 200 components.