HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2015-11-25, Page 7Rebecca's current Grade 3 classmates,
Rebecca campaign during their "Check-in for celebrating "Smile Cookie Day" in support of
Charity" event throughout the month of September. Rebecca and the Children's Health Foundation.
Community Spirit is Alive
and Well in Huron County
Special to the Expositor
Growing up in rural Huron
County really is an experi-
ence like no other. We may
not have the amenities and
resources that most big cities
have to offer, but there are
many aspects of small town
living that I wouldn't trade in
for the world. Some may
find it too quiet or boring,
feel their opportunities are
limited, or see it as a down-
side that everyone in town
knows your daily routine.
But when tragedy hits in
small communities like this
one, you can be sure that the
entire community will pull
together to get their fellow
townspeople the support
they need.
After finding out that a stu-
dent in my grade two class
(Rebecca Kipfer-Pryce) had
stage -four cancer back in
June, I decided to run a fund-
raiser golf tournament at the
Seaforth Golf Course in order
to raise money for her family
to assist with medical costs. I
put the word out about the
tournament via social media,
and within one day the tour-
nament was completely filled.
Word spread like wildfire, and
I had all sorts of people reach-
ing out to volunteer at the
tournament, donate prizes, or
help out wherever needed. I
had no idea who most of these
people even were, yet
throughout my first two weeks
of my summer vacation I had
already spoken to over 200
people through Facebook,
text, email, and cell phone
conversations. The response
from the local community was
overwhelming, and I knew
that holding another event
was necessary to accommo-
date the large number of peo-
ple who wanted to assist me in
my fundraising efforts.
My next step was to turn to
the heart of many local com-
munities, The Royal Canadian
Legion. My family and I have
always been actively involved
with the Goderich Legion
through our assistance with
bake sales, poppy drives, serv-
ing at banquets and being
active members of the Legion
executive. I have personally
attended and worked at many
events run by Legion mem-
bers and volunteers, and have
seen how just how successful
they can be. When I
approached the Seaforth
Legion about holding a fund-
raiser BBQ there, I was grate-
ful that they were not only
willing to donate the venue,
but were offering up a num-
ber of volunteers to help out
with the setup, cooking and
clean up the day of. The
Legion staff and executive
were especially supportive,
and even the local Legion
members offered to donate
the meat for the BBQ in order
to help us save on costs.
As word continued to
spread about these fundrais-
ing events, more and more
people came out of the wood-
work to offer their support. I
had contact from a number of
friends, family, co-workers,
school staff and local busi-
nesses, many of which were
unknown even to the Kipfer-
Pryce family. My many help-
ers and I were now collecting
prizes for not one, but 2
events, both of which required
a great deal of assistance to
make work. By the first week
of August, we had already
gathered nearly 200 prizes,
and had a list of about 40 vol-
unteers lined up between the
two events. We had also
found over 20 local businesses
that were willing to sponsor
holes at the golf tournament,
each of which earned $100 for
A massive list of community
volunteers and local business
that helped to support,
organize and run events in
order to raise funds for the
"Rally for Rebecca" campaign.
the KP family. I knew that I
would now easily reach my
original fundraising goal of
$5000, but with the tremen-
dous support from the local
community we would
together be able to far surpass
it.
Since these two events,
awareness about this cause
has continued to spread
throughout the area. Many
local businesses have
recently held their own fun-
draising events in honour of
the KP family, family friends
have continued with their
sales of "Rally for Rebecca"
T-shirts and bracelets, and
the "Go fund Me" Facebook
page alone raised over
$10,000 for the cause. Words
cannot express just how
proud I am of what we have
together achieved in support
of the KP family, and I know
that the family will forever be
grateful not only for your
financial backing, but for the
many kind words and
prayers that have been sent
their way throughout this
difficult time. The past few
months have shown me the
true importance of commu-
nity, and just how kind and
generous people can be
when others are in need.
The spirit of giving is alive in
Huron County, and I am
honoured to be a part of it.
Wednesday, November 25, 2015 • Huron Expositor 7
Seaforth PS staff show their support for There were many great costumes at the pink -themed
Rebecca during a recent "Pink Day" held at "Rally for Rebecca" golf tournament held on Friday,
the school on Rebecca's 9th birthday. August 21st.
RECRUITING ONE NEW HCEDB BOARD MEMBER
HURON
COUNTY
HCEDB
The Huron County Economic Development Board
YOU COULD BE PART OF HELPING HURON COUNTY GROW IN
EXCITING NEW WAYS!
If you are passionate about Huron County and want to see it positioned
well for the future; If you believe that we have a great story to tell and
that we welcome investments and business development at the same
time as we embrace our heritage and quality of life; and if you know that
it takes commitment and hard work to accomplish great things ... then
consider putting your name forward.
In 2016 the Board will launch Huron County's new economic
development strategic plan and a new economic development
department structure.
APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY
November 30th at 4 p.m.
For information on the Board and the recruitment process those
interested can contact Natasha Fritzley
via phone: 519-524-8394 x.3232
and email: nfritzley@huroncounty.ca