It struck Mary Ann Richard one afternoon when she watched Cathy Caceres lift her 6-year-old daughter from a wheelchair into a van in the September heat.

That must be quite a chore, Richard thought, every time the girl has to get in and out of the van.

It was when Richard realized how much work even everyday tasks required for the single mother of three girls. And it was when Richard decided to help.

She’d known Cathy Caceres a year as a fitness instructor at Shapes. It was in the parking lot of the Port Richey center Richard watched the mother lift her daughter Maryn. The girl weighs 65 pounds.

“I’ve known Cathy about a year. I knew she had a daughter with special needs,” Richard said.

She just didn’t know the details.

She found out Maryn has cerebral palsy and Cathy is raising Maryn and her twin sister and an older daughter. She’s cobbled together work as a fitness instructor at Shapes and YMCA.

“Cathy’s never one to ask for help. She’s always smiling,” Richard said.

Richard has organized a fund-raising Bingo evening with Pampered Chef prizes plus raffles for gift baskets that merchants have donated.

Everything, except the cost of some gift cards that will be awarded to winners,  will go to the family to help Maryn, who always seems to have a smile, Richard said.

“She’s just the sweetest little thing,” Richard said.

It will be Friday, Nov. 4, at the Cotee River Lions Club, 8320 Plathe Road in New Port Richey, starting at 6 p.m. The 20 Bingo games and drawings for gift baskets will probably go on about three hours but could last longer, Richard said.

The New Port Richey-Cotee River Lions Club has donated the space.

Richard has a track record of success in these Bingo fund-raisers. She has organized events for the Relay for Life for Cotee River Elementary School twice and raised a total of $1,500.

She’d like to raise more for Cathy and her family, especially Maryn who attends Cotee River Elementary.

The family may need a handicap van with a wheelchair lift soon.

“Any money we raise will be a help,” Richard said, and cash donations before the Bingo night have generated money already.

On game night, a $20 donation buys two reusable Bingo cards you’ll play through 10 games, with each winner getting a $35 gift card for Pampered Chef merchandise.

The winner of a drawing at the end will get the goodies Pampered Chef usually gives the host of a party for the kitchenware company.

Between games, gift baskets from local businesses will be offered in raffles. The baskets range in value from about $25 to $100.

Richard also has rounded up support from other businesses that have donated food that will be served along with dishes made by volunteers.

Richard, who has sold Pampered Chef products since 2000, will also donate her commission.

For more information, you can call Richard at (727) 364-6311.