YMCA sets Good Friday Breakfast speaker

VW independent/submitted information

The YMCA of Van Wert County is hosting its annual Good Friday Prayer Breakfast on Friday, March 25, at 7 a.m. at Willow Bend Country Club. This year’s speaker is Brianna Bolinger.

At the age of 3, Bolinger was critically burned in an explosion on her family’s farm. It caused third-degree burns to 60 percent of her body resulting in a total of 30 surgeries. She began to dance and twirl baton as a therapeutic technique to help with the subtly of her skin.

Bolinger is now a high school senior at Norwell High School in Ossian, Indiana, eager for graduation. Continuing to dance throughout her life, she has been trained in tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, and kick line. In the baton-twirling world, she is recognized as an elite level athlete and competed as a member of Team USA for the international championships in Abbottsford, British Columbia, Canada, this past summer.

Bolinger also obtained her certified nursing assistant license her junior year of high school and plans to pursue a nursing degree with the intent of working in the burn field.

Bolilnger plans to share how, by God’s leading hand, she has transformed the original fire that detrimentally transformed her life into a fuel, launching her into her greatest calling.

All are welcome to attend the Prayer Breakfast. Tickets can be purchased at the YMCA of Van Wert County for $8 each.

The Y will be collecting canned good items at the door for a donation to local food pantries.

Information about this and any other programs available through the Van Wert YMCA can be found by calling 419.238.0443 or visiting www.vwymca.org.