Bingo Fundraiser To Help Son Of Firefighters Get Service Dog

ROCKVILLE, MD — An American Girl Doll bingo fundraiser next month will help the son of two Montgomery County firefighters get a service dog. Ten-year-old Lucas has been diagnosed with Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS).

PANDAS is an autoimmune and neurological condition in which symptoms are brought on or worsened by a strep infection, according to the National Institutes of Health. During a PANDAS episode, children may experience the following signs and symptoms: moodiness and irritability, motor changes (like handwriting), separation anxiety, joint pain, and developmental regression (such as temper tantrums and "baby talk").

Help the son of 2 MoCo Fire Fighters get needed service dog. He is diagnosed with Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated w/Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS). Fun time at American Girl Doll Bingo!https://t.co/9QCye7UIjJ? pic.twitter.com/45yxfWQ2LL
— MoCo FF Charitable Foundation (@mccffcf) May 8, 2019

The fundraiser will be held on Saturday, June 22 from 1 to 5 p.m. at 710 North Main St. in Boonsboro. Doors open at noon and tickets are available for $30.

Tickets will get you 12 games, a chance for door prizes, and entries for a lucky losers drawing, according to the Eventbrite posting. Players will also have the chance to win American Girl Dolls, clothes, and accessories.

The goal is to raise $13,500. Lucas' mother, Laura Murdock, said all the money goes to a non-profit organization called Canines for Change.

"We are hoping that this fundraiser, the American Girl Doll bingo, will help put us closer to our goal or put us (completely) there," Laura said.

The service dog is an 18-month-old chocolate Lab named Willette.

According to Laura, Willette will be trained to get help from another room, turn off the lights, sit between Lucas and another person to create space, and more.

Willette is already living with the family, but needs proper training and a certification to be a service dog. He's only been at their home a few weeks and already has formed a special bond with Lucas.

"They're like best friends," Laura said.

To learn more about the fundraiser, click here.

You can also visit the family's GoFundMe page here.