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Community Turns Out For Lithia Fundraiser

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By JAN HOLLINGSWORTH | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 20, 2008

LITHIA They came by the thousands last week to Mike Holmes' Lithia-Pinecrest horse farm – on foot, in cars and zipping through cyberspace. Their mission: to help a man build a special house for his kids, three of whom are struggling with cystic fibrosis.
Singer/songwriter Greg McDougal has spent two years selling CDs to raise money to build a home free of the dust and allergens that aggravate their condition. Holmes saw the giant yard sale/auction/concert May 16 and 17 as a way to "Git R Dun" once and for all. Did he?
"Not quite," said Holmes, who had hoped to raise more than $200,000 for the cause. "I'm confident we've missed by a long shot."
Nonetheless, he and McDougal said they are touched by the outpouring of concern from the community and the individuals who offered heartfelt support.
"The amount of love from the people who came, and the talent of those who played [the concert] was remarkable," McDougal said. "They were really on their game both nights."
Holmes figures they raised about $5,000 from the yard sale and another $1,900 from an auction that featured art, musical instruments, donated jewelry and even the services of Holmes' prized quarter horse stallions – Dude's Bronze Bonanza and Heza Jet Playboy.
To Holmes' surprise, no one put a bid on the stud fees, but the guitars went for as much as $400.
"Probably 50 percent of the items sold went to online buyers," said Holmes, who arranged to have the concert and auction streamed live on his Web site, www.horsentack.com.
As many as 1,000 people joined the event online, he said.
Still to be tallied, outright donations made to Holmes Web site and to McDougal's, www.ahouseformykids.com.
"We're gonna have to move on to Phase 2," Holmes said. "I think we're going to reach out to the horse community and do sponsored trail rides, asking businesses and organizations to step up to the plate to sponsor miles ridden by people across the country."
A number of people who read about the McDougal family's quest have suggested they would make good candidates for "Extreme Makeover," an ABC-TV reality program where families in need have their homes renovated.
"Been there, done that," McDougal said. "They wanted to build for us; they loved our story."
However, the land where the home is to be built in Mount Juliet, Tenn. hadn't been deeded to the family by the show's deadline.
"Since we weren't ready, they've moved on," McDougal said.
"With every hospital stay this becomes more urgent, so we're just trying to get 'er done," he said.

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