Mandy Matherly said she knows that she could have a nice banquet or auction to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, but the Lego build-off is just much more fun.
In its fifth year, the Lego build-off was held in Danville at the Regional Center for Advanced Technology and Training on Saturday with 31 participants and around 150 spectators. It was sponsored by the Piedmont Credit Union.
A “Lego gallery” was set up in the halls of the building as people and judges went by to see the creations that people had made out of Legos. There was also a Lego drag strip racing competition and a contest to build the tallest Lego tower.
The event is held to raise money for the MDA. People were encouraged to donate money to the Lego projects they enjoyed the most and everyone who enters the contest is allowed to raise money before the event.
Lego-building ingénue Alex Malkiewicz, a 13 year-old from Lynchburg, entered his replica of the RMS Olympic into the contest and raised $279. He said he enjoyed building Legos and after getting involved with the build-off three years ago he has also taken an interest in fundraising for people with muscular dystrophy.
“I saw a picture of the kids that (MDA) sponsors and then one of them died,” said Malkiewicz. “It made me want to help. It made me feel grateful.”
While building Legos is fun for a lot of people, Matherly said the most important thing is helping out a good cause and encouraging others, especially young people, to get more involved.
She said a mother once sent her an email thanking her for her efforts in raising money. The woman described that after taking part in the build-off her children started praying for people who suffer from muscular dystrophy.
“It just gives me goose bumps to think about it,” said Matherly. “That is what this is about.”
Matherly set up the fundraiser five years ago for her friend Morgan Hall, who is an 18 year-old student going to Danville Community College next year. Hall and Matherly grew up together and both enjoyed working on puzzles and building things. Hall, who has muscular dystrophy, inspired her so much she wanted to help out other people with the disease.
On Saturday the Lego build-off raised $2,151 with people coming as far as New Jersey to be a part of the event.
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