This Past Governor’s ‘Float For Life’ Buoyant With Huge Increase in Donations

> When Mountain Home, AR Lodge 1953 Past Governor Fred “Sonny” Grueber started his “Float For Life” fundraiser three years ago, he could hardly have imagined how successful the event might become. This year, Grueber raised $37,000, which was $12,000 more than he raised in 2005. Float For Life involves Grueber traveling 418 miles down the White River, from Bull Shoals to the Mississippi River. The trip takes more than four days. Float For Life raises money for the Hospice of the Ozarks, and Grueber’s inspiration came when he worked to keep his terminally-ill wife from entering a nursing home prior to her death in 2003. Grueber became committed at that time to raise money toward a patient support fund that would enable people to receive hospice care who could not afford costs not covered by Medicare. Grueber and companions Rob Banasiak and Ray Novak started the trip on Dec. 4, the anniversary of Grueber’s wife’s death. “As long as I am healthy enough, I will continue to do it,” Grueber said. Float For Life donations come in many forms, but most are from individuals who sponsor the team for each mile it travels.