By ZEINAB NAJM
Times-Herald Newspapers
A Dearborn woman is hosting Strike for Syrian Refugees to raise money to provide medical care and educational supplies for Syrian refugees in Greece.
The bowling-for-a-cause fundraiser will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 26 at Thunderbowl Lanes, 4200 Allen Road in Allen Park.
A $20 donation includes two games of bowling, open arcade, pizza, beverages and treats. A 50/50 raffle is also included in the price, and separate raffle baskets worth up to $300 will be available.
Event organizer and registered nurse Heba Abazid from Dearborn hopes to reach a $10,000 goal for the trip and services that will be provided to refugees.
With the money, computers, school supplies, medication, clothing, food and other items will be purchased for the refugees. One of the goals for participants is to setup a computer lab at the school by purchasing computers with money raised.
“I’ve always been passionate about doing volunteer work and feel that nursing is broad and can be used in so many great ways,” Abazid said. “I always told my mom that once I finished nursing school I want to be able to give back and help those that are stuck in refugee camps.”
Abazid will be joining doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals from Michigan and around the country in Filippiada, Greece, to help refugees.
“We have selected to begin our work at this camp and are hoping to stretch our help to other cities as well,” she said. “Our current goal is to finish building a school for the refugees and provide them with supplies before moving on to our next project.”
Abazid said she became involved after she attend a Syrian fundraiser hosted by another volunteer Adam Abusalah in December.
“After attending the dinner, I got in contact with Adam and asked him if there was more that I could do to offer my help and from there on out we have been working together to organize events that will help raise funds for refugees that were forced to flee their homes,” she said.
Trip organizer, Dr. Ribhi Hazin previously traveled to Turkey, Uganda, Palestine, Jordan and Greece to help the less fortunate. The Harvard University medical school graduate, who has more than 11 years of internal medicine practice, also will be leading the Greece trip from March 2 to 13.
For more information on the fundraiser email [email protected]
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected])