Villagers Bob Ziarko and his wife Mickie know first-hand the battle against disease.
That’s why they wanted to help Elouise Sloan, 12, who suffers from a rare brain disease called “H-abc.” So, on Monday, Elouise — and her parents Britt and Michele – came to Savannah Center for a benefit performance of “Girls Night: The Musical.” The show was sold out.
“We have to do something for these children,” said Bob Ziarko, who helped organize the event. Both he and Mickie lost their spouses to cancer. They have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in The Villages for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
Elouise Sloan flew in with her parents from Rockville, Maryland to attend the Savannah Center event.
“This is very special,” Britt Sloan said. “It means so much to see so many people here who want to help.” He and his wife, Michele, created the Foundation to Fight H-abc.
“Most of the children do not live to be adults,” he said, noting that the longest living two survivors made it to 16 and 24.
Elouise is one of a handful of American children who suffer from the disease.
“I know people in The Villages understand what it means to be a caregiver,” Britt Sloan said. “You have to give up so much of your life, but when I look at my daughter, I realize how much you gain for giving of yourself.
“I just want to thank Bob and everyone in The Villages. It means a lot for our family.”
For more information go to: www.h-abc.org. Or email Britt Sloan at sloangolf3@gmail.com.
