Leonardtown, MD – When his ex-teacher and friend was in a serious accident and totaled his car, James McKulka (pictured, left) knew he had to do something to help.
McKulka has started a GoFundMe page to raise money to buy Leonardtown High School art teacher, Randy Tusing a new car to replace the one that was totaled in a December 2015 car accident.
McKulka started school at Leonardtown High School in 2011 and had Tusing as his art teacher.
“Ever since I had him as a teacher, I’ve been really close to him, as he is with everyone,” said McKulka. “He takes you in as one of his own.”
His friendship with Tusing continued throughout his high school experience and even after he graduated in 2015. So when he found out that Tusing was using the car service Uber to get to work, he wanted to help.
“My heart just broke when I heard,” McKulka said. “I didn’t want someone so deserving, someone who would give a person the shirt off his back, to go without such a necessity.”
Tusing’s car accident took place in Charlotte Hall in December. Even though it totaled his car, the accident ended up being a blessing.
“He was sent to the hospital and after examination, they found he had an aortic aneurysm,” McKulka said.
An aortic aneurysm is an enlargement in the body’s main artery. Enlargements that measure 6 cm or larger can potentially burst. Aortic aneurysms typically show no symptoms and can be fatal.
Former Leonardtown High School teacher Randy Tusing
Tusing’s aneurysm was 5.4 cm in size so he underwent surgery to remove it.
When McKulka heard about Tusing’s struggle, he started a GoFundMe page to raise money to buy the teacher a new car so he would no longer need to ask others for rides or hire a car service to get to work.
Donations started flooding in immediately. Parents, friends and former students were quick to donate. Each had a special connection and message for the man who had impacted their lives.
“Once we reach the goal, I’m going to print off all of the messages people sent so that he can see what people had to say,” said McKulka.
The page has raised $4,155 of the $6,000 goal in one month and has been shared over 500 times on Facebook. But the donations have recently slowed down.
“We’ve kind of run out of people who know Tusing,” said McKulka. “And it’s difficult to get people who don’t know him to donate.”
All of the 85 people who have donated have met Tusing and understand how amazing he is, says McKulka. He hopes to make others understand that, as well.
“Mr. Tusing is one of the most grateful and unapologetically positive people you will ever meet,” said McKulka. “If you ever get to meet him, it’s truly a pleasure. He calls everyone ‘angel,’ and he treats you as if you are one of his angels. Out of everybody in the county, or in the world, that I know personally, he is the one who deserves everything. If I had the money, I would have bought him the car already.”
McKulka says he wants to keep the page open as long as possible. He says his goal is to buy Tusing a comfortable, reliable car that will get him from point A to point B. But if he cannot buy Tusing a new car, he hopes to at least be able to give him the down payment on one.
“I want him to have a car before the school year starts because that’s when most of his driving occurs,” McKulka said.
McKulka wants to thank everyone who has donated to the fund so far, from those who have donated $5 to those who donated $200. It means a lot not only to him, but to Mr. Tusing, as well.
“Tusing is one of the most passionate people that I know,” McKulka said. “He will support you no matter what, as long as you have drive. There’s not many people like him anymore. It’s really inspiring to see such a good example of a person. It’s important to me that someone so loving and so deserving has what he needs.”
To learn more about the fundraiser or to donate visit The Tusing Car Fund.
