‘Pennies for Polish’ benefits SMA

Published 6:57 pm Wednesday, June 27, 2012

On Tuesday, which would have been Maggie Sue Kazlauskas’ first birthday, Spa-Toe-Pia launches “Pennies for Polish” or “Color for Coins” to raise a million cents — $10,000 — for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).

SMA is a group of inherited diseases that cause muscle damage and weakness which worsen over time and eventually lead to death.

Infants with SMA type I are born with very little muscle tone.

Maggie Sue, who died June 11, was diagnosed in December.

She was born in Niles July 3, 2011, the daughter of Jim and Mindie (Baerg) Kazlauskas.

Her paternal grandparents, Ed and Sue Kazlauskas, own Jim D’s and The Marshall Shoppe.

“All July we will be doing toe polishing on children (boys and girls, 12 and younger) and pets for coin donations,” Spa-Toe-Pia owner Jacqueline Hale said Wednesday. “This is a campaign for Maggie Sue. Every penny raised will be donated to SMA in her name. She was so precious to me, and I really want to do something in honor of her.”

Donate at least $2 and receive a wristband.