SAGINAW, Mich. - A widow who says her husband loved fireworks so much that she sent his ashes skyward has decided to donate his custom 1984 Pontiac Fiero to raise money for Saginaw's pyrotechnics display.
Gloria Hanley, 55, of Saginaw County's Thomas Township, told The Saginaw News she "couldn't think of a better way" to honor Richard Hanley than by raffling the car to help fund the Saginaw Area Fireworks Inc. show.
"He always liked blowing things up," Gloria Hanley said. "He was always exploding things. He loved the fireworks. I thought we might as well blow up the money we would have gotten for his car and give it to the fireworks."
The couple married in 1995. Richard Hanley died Feb. 13, 2007 at age 58, after a battle with leukemia.
Gloria Hanley said she "blew him up in a firework" last summer, sending his ashes into a starry sky.
Saginaw Area Fireworks sponsors the $85,000 July 4 display on Ojibway Island that attracts about 100,000 spectators. It's raffling the car for $5 per ticket. The winning ticket will be drawn May 3.
The car is worth an estimated $5,000.
Other fundraising efforts are planned, including an annual auction later this month. So far, fireworks organizers have raised about $15,000 of the money needed for this summer's show.
Gary Shepherd, the group's president, said it's always looking for interesting fundraising ideas.
"We want to reach out to the community so everyone can enjoy the fireworks," Shepherd said.
Information from: The Saginaw News