For Better or Worse – Ronnie McClure

Wednesday, February 22, 2012
4 – 10 p.m.

Sometimes a storybook romance doesn’t end with “and they all lived happily ever after.” Ronnie and Justine McClure grew up within a few blocks of one another in White City. When Ronnie and Justine said, “for better or for worse” in their wedding vows in 2009, they had no idea the challenges they’d face together. They just knew that they would face life together in love, for better or for worse.Two days before Christmas, 2011, Ronnie McClure was given the news nobody ever wants to hear – he was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). A fast-moving and fatal illness, ALS is slowly robbing Ronnie McClure of his ability to walk, speak, and even swallow. It’s a lot for a 35 year-old unemployed father and his beloved bride to handle, but add three children and no health insurance to the mix, and you have the makings for a monumental tragedy.

Happily ever after may only happen in fairy tales and movies, but even if it’s only for one night, we want to try to make a fairy tale come true for the McClure family. On Wednesday, February 22, 2012, the Van Duzer Foundation board members and volunteers will roll up their sleeves and host a 100 Percent Night. From 4:00 p.m. until 10 p.m. , one hundred percent of everything purchased at Big Apple Pizza and Pasta in Fort Pierce will be donated to the McClure family to help alleviate some of the mountainous financial difficulties they’re facing as a result of Ronnie McLure’s illness. Not ten, not fifteen, but ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of ALL sales of food, beverage, and tips will go to the McClure family. Even the staff working will donate their salaries that evening to help a family from our community and show a little love.

There will be bounce houses for the kids, entertainment courtesy of DJ Vince and Traxx Entertainment, and plenty of fun, food, and laughter, and all you have to do to help this family is order dinner or a refreshing beverage, even order ahead and pick it up on your way home from work. You can share a kind word with the McClure family, let them know the community is behind them and sending our thoughts and prayers, and make a painless contribution. If you don’t have a penny to spare, don’t worry; you can still help save three lives with your donation of lifesaving blood. Representatives from One Blood, Inc., will be on hand to gratefully accept your heroic donation. None of us is promised a “happily ever after,” but please come, help make the night of Wednesday, February 22nd, a magical one for the McClure family. Big Apple Pizza & Pasta is located just across from IRSC’s Main Campus at at 2311 S. 3th Street in Fort Pierce.

Formed less than four years ago, the all-volunteer Van Duzer Foundation has raised just under a half million dollars and over 5,000 pints of blood to help individuals and families in St. Lucie County who are struggling with financial and personal hardship brought about by unforeseen crisis or tragedy.