A Saturday fundraiser which included donations from Prairie Inn, Mary’s Bleue Moon and Bleue Coyote restaurants raised more than $11,000 for the Down family who are living at Ronald McDonald House in Vancouver while their 19-month-old son Henry receives cancer treatment at BC Children’s Hospital.
“It’s totally overwhelming, how we could get so many donations in just 10 days,” said Jamie Day, general manager for the Prairie Inn. “I’m blown away.”
Day said he was happy to offer the Prairie Inn for the fundraiser. “This is the definition of a neighbourhood pub. This is neighbours helping neighbours.”
He had high praise for coodinator of the fundraiser Lori Orr.
“Lori Orr is amazing. The amount of work she put into this is just amazing. Ninety-nine per cent of the stuff we have down here was done by her … more than 120 items, not just from our community, from downtown, other islands,” he said.
To keep up with Henry’s progress join the Facebook group “I love Henry down”. Donations to the Down family may be made to Island Savings 809, Brentwood Bay Branch 20000 #2174233.