By Meagan Choi (Last updated: 05/31/10 10:18pm)

Since she was a child, English senior Liza Polaskey has been interested in helping others. Polaskey took a Swahili course as a freshman at MSU and has since aspired to travel to Africa, and eventually join the Peace Corps after she graduates.

“I’ve had a fascination with volunteering for a long, long time,” Polaskey said.

Polaskey was one of the team and community members who participated in a bowling fundraiser Saturday at Marvel Lanes, 2120 E. M-78 Highway in East Lansing. An estimated $400 was raised for the mission trip, entitled Mission for Mercy, sponsored by Healthcare Ministries.

Mission for Mercy trip members will travel August 20-31 to the Republic of Cameroon, Africa to help provide health care for impoverished residents, said Art Hasbrook, the event organizer and team member.

“A majority of the funds go straight to the mission,” Hasbrook said.

Along with two hours of bowling and pizza, the auction had sandals and framed photographs from previous trips to Cameroon along with other donated items.

The trip will provide health care clinics for more than 4,000 people, team leader Simon Kue said.

Kue originally is from Cameroon and said his church, First Assembly of God, which is sponsoring the trip, has taken the trip for the past four years, since the church has missionaries who are based in Cameroon.

“The main reason is we have a partnership with our home missionaries,” he said. “It’s much easier for us to connect to the country.”

Kue, who is a pharmacist, said the team of 12 will be treating patients diagnosed with ailments such as malaria, ulcer problems and diabetes. The money raised will be used to buy medical supplies, including painkillers, vitamins, bandages and glasses, he said.

“There’s no limit — as much as we can (raise),” Kue said.

When Polaskey’s mother, Judy Polaskey, who works at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, received an e-mail from Kue asking for interested health care workers, she forgot about it until her daughter began looking for a summer volunteer opportunity. Judy Polaskey had no intention of going herself, but after watching a video at Kue’s home of the trip overview, she said she felt compelled to go.

“It just really spoke to my heart,” Judy Polaskey said. “How can I not go?”

Although most of the team members are medical practitioners, Liza Polaskey said she has been trained to run eye care clinics and hand out glasses.

“I’m really excited but really, really anxious and nervous,” she said.

Kue said that the ultimate goal is showing love and compassion while providing physical aid for thousands of impoverished people.

“The demand and need is more than we can offer,” he said.

The bowling event is one of three fundraising events planned for the summer and the team is always looking for donations, Kue said.

“Our goal is to be able to bring comfort and help the needy,” he said. “In order to do that, we need to raise funds.”

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Originally Published: 05/31/10 10:12pm