Despite the threat of bad weather Friday afternoon, Tracy’s Night at Dixieland Fun Park in Fayetteville saw hundreds of participants riding rides and having fun, all the while raising $10,000 for the Tracy Russo Medical Fund.

The back-to-school fund raiser featured half-priced armbands, free prize drawings and visits from the Chick-fil-A Cow and 92.5 FM’s Bubba the Bear. Folks buying armbands also received free chicken sandwich coupons courtesy of the Chick-fil-A Dwarf House in Fayetteville. All proceeds from armband and ticket sales have been contributed to the Tracy Russo Medical Fund, which is hosted at Bank of America.

Russo, a former Dixieland Fun Park employee and a 2003 Fayette County High School graduate, was diagnosed last year with having a tumor on her brain stem. Having no medical insurance, Tracy and her family must raise an estimated $130,000 to pay for surgery and treatment. Approximately $41,000 had been raised prior to Tracy’s Night at Dixieland, and now the running total has surpassed the $50,000 mark.

In addition to raising money through armband and ticket sales, many park employees donated their wages for the evening to the medical fund. Many park guests also went above and beyond by stuffing cash into donation jars at the park.

“We were really pleased to have such a great turn-out considering the threatening weather in the area Friday night,” said Dianne Williams, who owns the park along with her husband Johnnie. “It was wonderful to see so many of Tracy’s friends, family and other members of the community come out to support her.”

Community members who would like to continue the fund raising effort can contact Dixieland Fun Park at 770-461-9941 for more information, or they may visit www.SupportTracy.com and www.DixielandFunPark.com.

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