Benefit walk raises $8,000 for vehicle for Allison Murphy

MONROE-Laurie Murphy has always felt uncomfortable taking money from the community in response to the fund-raising efforts of 11-year-old Jacki Williams and mother, Alba. But she's always been grateful. The pair set up a fund to help Laurie's family purchase a wheelchair-accessible vehicle to make it easier for her daughter, Allison get around. Allison is an 8-year-old Pine Tree student who has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and is blind. On Saturday, a benefit walk around Monroe's ponds raised about $8,000 - $4,500 directly from pledges from the walkers, said Alba Williams, and the rest from the responses to letters Jacki sent out to businesses and politicians since mid-May, promoting the June 18. "All of a sudden, they said ‘we haven't done anything, but now we can help,'" Alba said. Since the Allison fund started, more than $20,000 has been raised. Many businesses donated items and services. From the trendy donation wrist-bands with the names of the Allison and Jacki inscribed on the sides, to T-shirts, key chains, bottled waters and raffle gifts. Steven Snitofsky, owner of MailExpress in Monroe, ordered the wristbands, helped with the printing of flyers, donated raffle prizes and donated his time on the day of the walk, transporting materials. When asked for his name, Snitofsky first hesitated, saying, "I did this to help a little girl, not for publicity." Next Thursday, the Williams' will be leaving Monroe. Jacki's father has been working out West and it's time for the family to be together again. "What are we gonna' do when your gone," said one of the ten Teen Mission group members who volunteered during the walk. Alba Williams said that many community members have asked "who will take over?" But Jacki is quick to answer her mother when she brings the subject up. "I don't want anybody to take it over; I want to finish it," she said. The Williams' focus now is on delivering the vehicle to Allison and finishing their move. Alba Williams says that the $20,000 will be used for the down payment for the $45,000 van and the remaining $25,000 will be financed by the Murphy family. "The car is almost ready, she said." They'll pick it up in about five days." Mrs. Brown, Allison's Pine Tree teacher, pushed her around the ponds in her wheelchair. When it was time to leave, Allison clenched her teacher's hand and refused to let her go. She began to cry. "I just want to thank all these people coming out here to help," Allison said. Her mother added on to her daughter's show of thanks. "There are such nice people here. They have always been there for us." The little "mayor," as some now call her was tired after a long, warm, day and said she "wanted to go home and go swimming." As Laurie Murphy prepared to wheel Allison away she said, "Just goes to show - maybe 17 years ago we picked the right place to live." Here is a list of the walk's business platinum partners. The Murphy and Williams family would like to thank all other businesses and individuals who contributed to Allison's Fund: Platinum Sponsors: Fran's Hallmark, Cherfoto Images, Bagel World, GNC, Monroe Woodbury Rotary, Kathy Demos, Esq., Sapphire Title, Monroe Ford, Mail Express, Jilly's Place, UNO Chicago Grill, Monroe Lions, Dana Distributors, Provident Savings Bank, Dr. and Mrs. Bobb Vladeck, YourSport Custom Apparel, Artistic Images, Mr. Cone and Mary Pagana.