Even while baby-sitting Sunday, a mother was reminded of her son who died two years ago — and the powerful impact he had on friends and family.
Barb Carmen’s 2-year-old grandson, Blake Devers, was named after her son, Blake Hanger. Her son died at age 25 after injuries sustained in a car crash in St. Louis in October 2013.
“I might hear a song or see something that reminds me of him,” Carmen said. “And I just have to cry.”
Hanger’s friends and family will remember and reminisce about the chiropractic student bent on helping others during the third annual Bowl For Blake fundraiser from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Columbus Bowling Center on State Street. The event raises money for the Blake Hanger Memorial Scholarship Fund, which is administered by the Heritage Fund — The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County.
More than 300 people attended last year’s event and raised more than $50,000.
Brent Hanger, Blake Hanger’s father, said he hoped this year’s event, featuring about 40 items in a silent auction and about 12 items in a live auction, generates as much interest and money as last year.
“It’s so hard to tell how much (it can yield),” Brent Hanger said. “But the people of Columbus always are so generous and so willing to step up.”
Current auction items include an official U.S. women’s World Cup Championship soccer jersey signed by all the players and a U.S. men’s soccer squad ball autographed by the team.
Plus, a St. Louis Cardinals game package includes a visit to batting practice and even throwing out the first pitch. Offerings also include a Green Egg grill and concert tickets with VIP parking to any Klipsch Music Center concert in Noblesville.
Columbus North High School graduate Blake Hanger earned an education degree from Butler then enrolled at Logan University in St. Louis, where he was studying to be a chiropractor. He was passionate about academics and achieving dreams, which is one reason his family wanted to launch a scholarship fund.
His dad thought for a second about what his son would think of such a development.
“I know deep down in my heart, he’s got to be proud of all this,” he said.
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What: Third annual Bowl For Blake fundraiser for scholarships administered through the Heritage Fund — The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County.
When: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: Columbus Bowling Center, 3010 State St.
Information: 812-344-9950.
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