WESTVILLE — Golfers will have an opportunity to help Westville youth Skylar Gay, 15, who was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy when he was 7 years old. Olive Branch Masonic Lodge 38, along with the Grand Lodge of Illinois Coins for Children program, is sponsoring the Moonlight Golf Scramble on Friday at Harrison Park Golf Course. Tee-off time is 7:45 p.m. the cost for golf, cart, drinks, tee prizes and score prize is $38 for club members and $45 for non-members. all proceeds will go to help defray medical costs for Skylar. his muscular dystrophy has progressed to the point where he has lost all muscle control, and he requires 24-hour care. his mother, Denise, was a stay-at-home mom and provided the needed care until January, 2009, when her husband, Kevin, died in a motorcycle accident. at that point she had to find a job to provide for the family. she currently works with mentally challenged individuals. Denise has to arrange care for Skylar while she is at work, but otherwise she is his only caregiver. Some of his faithful daytime caregivers include his sister Chelsey Gay and his two brothers, Kevin and Austin Gay; a special cousin, Calib McBride of Montezuma, Ind.; and his maternal grandmother, Luella Hennette. Since Skylar still is able to use his fingers to an extent, he spends his days accessing the Internet, playing video games and watching movies. he also is able to eat and speak.
“He’s a very smart boy and stayed in school through junior high school, but he hasn’t been able to walk since he was 10,” Denise said. “We’ve pretty much accepted Skylar’s prognosis,” she added. “most people who have this disease don’t live past age 20, and Skylar seems to be at peace with his limitations. I guess we can always hope and pray for a miracle.” Denise plans to keep Skylar at home with her. Olive Branch Masonic Lodge Secretary Robert Blacketer said, “we try to help someone every year through our Coins for Children program. we appreciate all the golfers who have already signed up to make the event successful for this worthy cause.”
FYI for more information or to sign up for the Moonlight Golf Scramble, contact Brock Burton at Harrison Park Golf Course or Robert Blacketer at 497-3833 or blackie3272@yahoo.com. for those who would like to help Skylar and his family in another way, a “Skylar Gay MD” fund has been set up at the Landmark Credit Union offices in both Danville and Westville.