Money missing from Round Lake Parkinson’s event

Barb Stonecipher said it isn’t the amount of money that was taken from a charity event she helped organize that bothers her, it’s the principle.

A little more than $100 in cash donations was taken at the “Stepping Out for Parkinson’s” event Sunday at Nippersink Forest Preserve in Round Lake, Stonecipher said.

The 200 people who attended were asked to place cash donations into a large shoe during the free lunch portion of the event between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., she said.

Early on, it looked as though about $100 was inside the “donation shoe”, she added, but that money was taken at some point during the afternoon and never returned.

“I was hoping and waiting and trying to give the benefit of the doubt,” the Round Lake woman said Wednesday. “But, when it didn’t turn up, I couldn’t wait anymore. I had to file a police report.”

She said she reported the money stolen to the Lake County Forest Preserve Police. Police did not immediately return telephone calls seeking comment.

“The event itself was a great success, so I don’t want the missing money to take away from what a wonderful day it was,” Stonecipher said. “I just want people to be aware that there are people out there who would do something like this.”

She said she still hopes the money will turn up, but realizes its probably a lost cause.

“It took us until later to realize the money was gone,” she said. “We are estimating more than $100 was taken, but we didn’t count it and there is no way to know.”

People who would like to donate should contact event organizers at (847) 373-8320, or visit www.steppingoutforparkinsons.com.