Easterseals Midwest hosts 23rd annual Bowling for Autism Fundraiser event

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Cleek Family returned to the AMF Town and Country Lanes Saturday for the 23rd Annual Bowling for Autism Fundraiser for Easterseals Midwest.

The annual fundraiser raises money to help people with disabilities with physical rehabilitation, job training and meeting personal goals. Event Chairman John Cleek Jr. got started working with Easterseals after the group helped his son Thomas.

"Our youngest son, Thomas, he's 26 now, but he has mild autism, so that's kind of how we got started with this organization many years ago," Cleek said. "Now we've just got to keep this thing going and, you know, look forward to hearing maybe ten years or so, we'll break a million bucks."

In previous years, the group has continually raised over $30,000.

ABC 17 News participated as both a media sponsor and a bowling team.