‘Lift Up Bobby’ Campaign Raises $14,000 For New Lift For DLHS Staff Member

Detroit Lakes, MN (KDLM) – One month ago, Detroit Lakes High School students and staff started the “Lift Up Bobby” campaign to help a school staff member purchase a lift for his vehicle.

Bobby Heimark, an IT tech who has worked with the District for over twenty years, suffers from a rare condition called Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC) which makes it extremely difficult to walk.

Thanks to donations and contributions from the Detroit Lakes students’ GoFundMe page, district staff and community members, Detroit Lakes Rotary, the Knights of Columbus, the Laker Boys Basketball team, AMCSI (Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita Support Inc), and Trisha Geffree of Ready Set Fund the “Lift Up Bobby” campaign has raised $14,000.

“I’m so thankful for all of you,” Heimark said at a DLHS student assembly on Wednesday afternoon. “I want all of you guys to remember and see what a small idea can do…just a quick question that Mrs. Kvebak asked me a few months ago… and look at everything that’s happened because of that. And it all started with you guys here.”

Mary Kvebak, an English teacher at the High School noticed that Heimark had left his scooter in a snowbank in the school parking lot.  After inquiring, Heimark indicated he didn’t have a lift for his car and often left the scooter in the school parking lot, he would then pick up his wife and bring her back to the High School where she would then lift the scooter into the car.

Everybody that contributed to the campaign raised money in their own ways: the Knights of Columbus raised $3,577.76 for Heimark at a pancake feed. The Laker Boys Basketball team raised $935 by passing around buckets at a home game. The original GoFundMe goal was $5,000.

“We made enough for the lift, and then some,” Heimark said after the rally. “It’s already been ordered and we should know when it will arrive sometime tomorrow.”

Funds will be used for the purchase of a lift and the extra money will go towards medical expenses.