Mike McCracken, who was the proprietor and sole employee of Victory Auto Sales in Santa Maria, collapsed Feb. 18 and was rushed to Marian Medical Center, where he spent 64 days being treated for perforated diverticulitis.

The condition resulted in overwhelming sepsis, kidney failure, lung failure and heart problems. He was placed in a medical coma and put on dialysis.

McCracken's son, Andy McCracken, has taken over Victory Auto Sales in the meantime, but he has his own family to support, and the business doesn't generate enough income for two families.

Four other couples in the Bible study group he and his wife Rebecca attended have decided to help Mike McCracken out by selling raffle tickets for a 2008 Toyota Prius Hybrid.

Toyota will sell the vehicle to the group at a reduced cost if they can raise enough money through raffle tickets to buy it, according to Rick Ontell, who is one of only eight people who are selling the tickets.

If the group doesn't sell enough tickets to purchase the Prius, they'll draw a ticket and give half the cash collected to the winner and half to the McCracken family.

Tickets cost $50 each, and participants need not be present at the drawing to win. The drawing will take place at noon Saturday, Aug. 2, at Victory Auto Sales, on the corner of Santa Maria Way and Miller Street.

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The goal is to buy the car, give it away, and give the money left over to the McCrackens to help with their medical bills and lost income as a result of McCracken not being able to work. He has six months of physical and occupational therapy ahead of him, and surgery if he's doing well.

“We're trying to mitigate the effect of all these bills that are piling up in some way, until he's back on his feet and can go back to work,” Ontell said.

Donations can also be made to the McCracken Fund at Calvary Chapel at 2620 Santa Maria Way, Santa Maria, CA 93455.

TO BUY TICKETS:

Raffle tickets can be purchased at the following locations. Tickets can also be delivered to the Orcutt area. For information, contact any of the phone numbers listed below.

Victory Auto Sales: 2726 Santa Maria Way; 937-0421

Office of Rod Childress, DDS: 308 S. McClelland St.; 922-4362

Office of Richard Ontell, MD: 821 E. Chapel St. #102; 925-1822

Pierce Chiropractic: 1415 E. Main St.; 922-1721

DreamMakers Bath/Kitchen: Chuck and Shelly Winkles, 1729 W. Stowell Road #F; 928-7691