Awestruck. I finally settled on on awestruck as the closest word to describe my feelings surrounding Saturday’s fundraiser for Eli Perry.
I have lived in and loved this town for over 13 years, but to be at the centre of such an outpouring of love and kindness as this was truly beyond words. Hundreds and hundreds of people came out to express their love and show their support to our family.
Many came in to town on that hot day just to offer a donation. People came from Victoria, Nanaimo, Comox and Courtenay. They shared their triumphs and their tragedies as well. I want to thank every single individual who either spread the word, hit share on Facebook, came out for lunch, took a friend out to lunch, took their entire family out for lunch, or even just if you couldn’t resist the smell of the onions wafting in the breeze, thank-you for coming. So many children came to offer a gift. And we are not unmindful that in these times, many of you face great difficulties of your own. All we can say, is thank-you. The list of those who made this possible is very long, but worthy, I believe, of the space. First to Garry Ogrodnick and Superstore for offering to host this event and donating all of the supplies; to Betty Gillis who took the idea and ran with it full tilt to the finish line; to all our many friends at superstore who encouraged us; to Tianna Thompson for coming down and standing with us in the heat from beginning to end; Cam Wong for coordinating everything (very stealthily); Audrey Meszaros, Cherie Samuels, Andrea Berrow, Jake Gillis, Shayla Bennet, Molly and Hannah Perry, Dianna Skory, all are truly stalwart friends. To Rob Freeland and Matt McKinnon for picking up our slack and enduring our antics.
Thank-you to the Mirror for publishing the invitation on the very front page; to Check News and CBC Vancouver for airing the story; to the Eagle 97.3 and C.R. Auction for announcing this event; Top Notch Cleaning; Econo U Store It; John Hammond and Conway Pauls and also to Loblaw’s who in addition to supplying our event, has pledged a corporate donation of $1,000. Thank-you to Greg Walgren for you efforts in coordinating with Loblaw’s on our behalf. Many people would like to know what the final total was so I saved the best for last: $7,752.07. But even as I write this, I have heard that donations are still coming to the store.
On behalf of the Perry family, thank-you Campbell River.
Sincerely awestruck,
Jodi Perry
Campbell River