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Mark Levengood & Rita’s Water Ice Bring Phillie Phanatic To Bear Country |
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Boyertown, PA - If you closed your eyes before you met and spoke with 17 year old Mark Levengood, you would never guess he was robbed of his sight by a brain tumor when he was 13. Mark is a very strong willed young man who is determined to help others in spite of his own challenges that have been placed before him. Mark’s eyesight started to deteriorate at age 10. His doctor ordered a Cat Scan which revealed a brain tumor on his left side. After being informed of the risks involved with removing the tumor, Mark and his parents Greg and Gail Levengood decided to go ahead with the surgery. Unfortunately, the surgery left him with permanent blindness. But despite the outcome, Mark remains a positive and outgoing teenager. Mark is good friends with Alex Stauffer who he used to play baseball with before losing his sight. Alex’s parents, Parrish and Brenda Stauffer, own the Rita’s Water Ice at 309 East Philadelphia Avenue in Boyertown. Mark got together with the Stauffer’s in 2005 and had his first fundraiser to raise money for cancer research. They tried to get the Phillie Phanatic last year but there wasn’t enough notice. So they tried again this year and succeeded! The Phillie Phanatic came to Rita’s Water Ice to help raise funds for the Tug McGraw Foundation which Mark chose. The Tug McGraw Foundation raises funds for brain cancer research, to raise awareness of the disease, and to support college students that have leadership potential to carry on Tug’s “Ya Gotta Believe” spirit. On June 2nd and 3rd, Rita’s donated ten percent of their profits to the Foundation as well as proceeds from a raffle for merchandise, and from selling YGB (ya gotta believe) bracelets. The raffle prizes were a Phillies t-shirt, YGB bracelet, Phillies hat, Rita’s t-shirt, Bobby Abreu ball, Chase Utley hat and 2 dozen golf balls donated by AAA. Despite the rain, residents came out in support of Mark and the fundraiser. Many enjoyed Rita’s Ice, Custard and other menu treats in addition to the non-stop antics of a “crazed” Phanatic. The Phanatic was stopping traffic as he jumped on the hood of a car, poked his nose inside cars and even took a diaper bag (which was returned) out of a passing SUV as many laughed. He also posed for many pictures and even taunted the Boyertown Police as he was spread-eagled against their vehicle. It was lots of fun for all those who came out to support a worthy cause and a phenomenal young man, Mark Levengood. Mark’s next endeavor? His greatest wish is to get Tim McGraw and Faith Hill to come out for a fundraiser. As I told Mark, “nothing is impossible”. Hold on to that wish Mark! Send your comments to Bethanne Reinert at breinert@wzartv.com. |
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| Posted on 06/03/06 by Zachary Reinert. | ||||
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2006 WZAR Internet TV - WZAR Radio - WZAR Productions |
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