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Benefit helps a friend fight for her independence

By Danielle Paine

Reminder Assistant Editor



EAST LONGMEADOW When Muscular Dystrophy stole Cathy Runquist's simple pleasures of volunteering at her church and driving herself to the grocery store, a group of friends made the decision to fight for her independence.

Although just one handicap van will give Runquist the independence that MS stole from her, a $50,000 price tag stands in the way. Friends Lori and Dennis Madden, among others, will be hosting a chinese raffle, along with a sale of crafts and baked goods on Dec. 10, 9 - 3 p.m. at Coughlin's Place, 182 North Main St., East Longmeadow.

"I hate asking for things, it is much easier for me to give the help than to ask for it," Runquist said. "But we live in a great community that is always there for people when they need them. This is really going to change my life tremendously."

A sense of community is very important to Runquist, a stay-at-home mother of three. When she was able to get around without her motorized scooter, she volunteered daily at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir, advising youth and writing the newsletter. She left all of that behind one year ago. It is what she says she misses the most.

"I still refuse to miss one of my kid's games, my girls are what keeps me going," Runquist said about her three daughters, Christina, Cassandra and Carly, who play field hockey, lacrosse and softball for UMASS and the East Longmeadow High School. "The teams even call me their mascot because I'm always there cheering for them. They always help me to get in an out of my van and into my scooter."

With a van, Runquist will no longer need anyone's help getting from place to place. With the touch of a button, a door will open and a ramp will unfold. From there, it is just a simple shift into the drivers seat that adjusts to make the transition smooth.

Lori Madden first met Runquist when her husband's business, Coughlin's Place, opened 19 years ago. When Runquist is too ill to go anywhere else, she usually makes it into Coughlin's for lunch and to visit, Madden said.

For 17 years, they have raised money together for the MS Society. Runquist's family also has good reason to have been an advocate of the cause for decades. Both her father and brother suffer from the illness.

"She is always helping me to raise money by doing the phone stuff, things on the computer and organizing all the kids for the annual walk," Lori Madden said. "I want her to get this van so that she can live life the way she wants to live it. Now we just need to get the people in the door."

Several local businesses have donated gift certificates and merchandise for the raffle including Pasquale's Ristorante, Leone's Restaurant, Spoleto Restaurant, Romito's Restaurant, Coughlin's Place, Meadow Brook Farm and many others.

For more information, call Lori Madden at 525-9304. To donate, please contact Berkshire Bank, 72 Shaker Rd., East Longmeadow in care of the Cathy Runquist Van Fund account number 1000205 72342.