ROAMING SHORES — Time is running out to buy a ticket to possibly win two lots of land in the picturesque lake community of Roaming Shores and support a fundraiser for a rare and incurable disease.

The drawing will take place Aug. 1, at 2 p.m., inside the Star Beacon Newspaper office, located at 4626 Park Ave., Ashtabula.

The idea for a fund raiser for the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation (UMDF), based in Pittsburgh, was prompted by Jeff Kraig, who resides in Mayfield Heights, personal experience with the disease. His 10 -year-old daughter, Melanie, of Solon, has struggled with the disease since her birth.

As Kraig was brain storming how he could help raise money and awareness for the disease that limits his daughter, a friend suggested selling tickets for a drawing on the land he owns at Roaming Shores.

“I thought, why not, I am not using it,” he said.

“Help support a charity and own a piece of the shore,” is the slogan of the fund raiser. Tickets are $25 each or two for $45, and the winner will receive two 75 feet by 150 feet, ready to build lots with utilities. They are located on the corner of Pierpont Road and Sugar Creek Drive, which are within walking distance to Roaming Rock Lake. Winning hopefuls must be 18 years or older; winner is responsible for property taxes and association fees. A minimum of 200 tickets must be sold and a portion of the proceeds will be given to benefit the UMDF charity.

Mitochondria exists in nearly every cell of the human body, producing 90 percent of the energy the body needs to function. In a person with the disease, the mitochondria are failing and cannot convert food and oxygen into life-sustaining energy. There are no treatments or cures for this disease and affected children may not survive beyond their teenage years, according to a fact sheet from the UMDF.

People wanting to participate may purchase tickets at the following businesses located throughout Ashtabula County: Ashtabula, Star Beacon Newspaper; Austinburg, Country Cousins; Shannon’s Mini Mart; Harpersfield, Bill’s Busy Mart; Jefferson, The Hanger; Jefferson Community Center; Village Coffee; Jeff’s Flowers; Jefferson Newsroom; Roaming Shores, Paradise Bay; Rock Creek, Trumbull Locker; Pasta Oven; Lebaron’s Florist & Gifts; Rock Creek Grille; Rock Creek Public Library; and Windsor, Triangle Store.

For more information on Mitochondrial Disease, look online at www.umdf.org

For more information on tickets or the fundraiser call Jeff Kraig at 440-567-1267 or e-mail him at jeffkraig@yahoo.com