I was recently made aware of this community event and wanted to share it with my audience. Please take some time to make yourselves familiar with Mike Wasike’s situation and help if you can:
On Sunday, Nov. 17, a group of Des Moines-area volunteers, led by the 50-person Maple Grove United Methodist Church, will host a charitable auction event to raise money for the Mike Wasike family. All proceeds from the event and all freewill donations will help fund the Wasike family’s medical and living expenses.
Auction-item donations will be accepted until Monday, Nov. 11. Freewill monetary donations will be accepted at the event or any time at teamwasike.org.
Mike Wasike, a legal immigrant from Kenya, was living in Des Moines and working two jobs to make his dream come true for him and his family. Then on a cold and snowy day last February, Mike stopped to offer assistance to three teenagers he thought needed his help. Those same teenagers ruthlessly attacked Mike in a car-jacking attempt. Mike was nearly beaten to death.
Ongoing medical and living expenses have challenged the Wasikes financially and emotionally every day since the attack.
Today, Mike is in a rehabilitation facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma, undergoing intensive therapy. He is more than 400 miles away from his wife, Joan, and children, Sandrah (13) and Melvin (4), who remain in Des Moines. He cannot walk, talk or see. The family believes he can hear, however, because he cried when his wife left to come back to Iowa. His brain is severely bruised, but according to his medical care providers, there is hope that, in time, he can be restored to health and returned to his family and his home.
“People want to help this family because they see how great their struggles are, how mighty their faith is and how much richer our community is for having them here,” said Jim Riordan, president of the Maple Grove United Methodist church council. “We are so excited and so moved to see the outpouring of support from our city.”
The family-friendly event is open to the public, and members of the media are encouraged to attend, as well.
A Day for Mike
A family-friendly event to raise funds for the Wasike family
Sunday, November 17, 2013
3 to 6 p.m.
Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center
Iowa Events Center
3:00 – 3:45 p.m.: Registration and performance by The Waukee Big Band
3:00 – 4:00 p.m.: Silent auction open & children encouraged to contribute to a mural that will be transported to Tulsa for Mike
3:45 – 4:00 p.m.: Welcome, meet Joan Wasike & Family and performance by Pat McManus of Rock In Prevention
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.: Live auction and children encouraged to make cards for Mike
5:00 – 5:30 p.m.: Silent auction open and performance by The Waukee Big Band
5:45 – 6:00 p.m.: Closing remarks
About Team Wasike
A volunteer group gathered by the 50-person Maple Grove United Methodist Church in Waukee, Team Wasike exists to show the Wasikes just how big of a family they have in Des Moines, how very much they are cared for and how much they belong. For more information or to donate to the Wasike family, visit teamwasike.org or search “A Day for Mike” on Facebook.
