BANGOR, Maine — Whenever cast members from the History Channel’s show “Down East Dickering” held an event in Maine, there was one person who was always there — Belfast resident Michael Kelley.
“He’s our biggest fan,” said Tony Bennett, star and narrator of the reality show about Mainers using Uncle Henry’s to haggle for just about anything. “After seeing him so much, we kind of befriended him.”
Kelley has a rare genetic syndrome called the triplication of chromosome 17, which makes him unable to sit upright or push his own wheelchair. The crew learned that Kelley’s family is trying to purchase an Action Trackchair, an all-terrain, electric “four-wheel drive” wheelchair that features triangle-shaped wheels covered with thick, grippy track, and they decided to help out. They already raised about $4,000 through three other fundraisers earlier this year and are holding a fourth, a spaghetti dinner and auction with live music at 6 p.m. Friday at Seasons’ Restaurant.
“We put him in one of these chairs a few months ago and away he goes,” Bennett said of Kelley. “You should see the look on his face when he gets in it. His face lights right up.”
Chappell Tractor of Milford, New Hampshire, is working with the family and already has reduced the $19,000 price for the all-terrain wheelchair to about $13,000, and the manufacturer is making free modifications to make it work for Kelley by adding straps and other things to hold him in place and help him drive.
“With the $4,000 already raised, we’re still about $9,500 short of our goal,” Bennett said.
He said that Kelley is shy when first meeting folks, but once he’s comfortable, it’s easy to see that “he’s quite a kid.”
“He’s just stuck in his wheelchair, and he can’t do anything,” he said. “His parents have to help him with everything. This is such a game changer.”
The suggested donation for the spaghetti dinner and entertainment is $10 per person, and there is a long list of auction items that includes a hand-made pontoon boat such as the one Speedy and Tinman built in a “Down East Dickering” episode.
“Half of us from the show will be there,” Bennett said of Friday’s fundraiser.
Dinner is at 6 p.m., the auction begins at 8 p.m., and live music will be played till 12:30 a.m. in Seasons’ DownUnder Club.