Jetting to the bay for a cause

PORT CLINTON, Ohio - Hundreds lined up outside the Jet Express Drawbridge Docks launch in Port Clinton Wednesday morning to purchase one of 600 round-trip $5 tickets.

By 10:30 a.m. all the special $5 tickets were sold out.

It was hardly a promotion, but an awareness fundraiser for Will Blumensaadt, a toddler from Put-in-Bay who died from Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Will died from the disease just short of his first birthday in June 2005.

Jet Express donated all of the money from the sale to families of SMA, said Todd Blumensaadt, owner of Jet Express. Will was his son.

"It's tremendous that everybody came out and supported it today," Todd said. "It's a meaningful cause, especially since my son passed away from this disease."

"I'd say FOX Toledo and Pepsi and the Jet Express hit a home run this morning," said Tom Brady, Jet Express marketing office. "At 8 o'clock when I pulled up and saw the line going around the block, I just said, home run, we're in good shape."

"Well that was an incentive," said Kathy Golias. "It is a really nice thing to do for Port Clinton. It was only $5 and that's a great price for Jet Express."

For some passengers, the special reduced price and fundraiser came as a pleasant surprise.

"It makes me feel pretty good," said Judy Kolorose. "Actually we were just here celebrating our 20th anniversary, so that's why we decided to go over."

"Well, I just kind of came with the money my mom gave," added Rachel Chambers. "Less is always better though. More spending money later, you know what I mean? More candy when we get to the island."

Although the special discounted tickets were sold out in less than three hours, Todd said the fundraising continued throughout the day and into the evening on Put-in-Bay before the last launch left for Port Clinton.

You can still donate to help fight SMA by making a donation to Jet Express or donating online.

According to Jet Express, over $4,000 was raised.

(FOX Toledo's Kristi Leigh contributed to this report)