Written by: Nina Wolstenholme
EVENT DATE: December 10th, 2016
3 months ago Rebecca Keffer came to my house and asked if I wanted to help plan a benefit event. I never thought that it would turn into the First Annual Almonte Pediatric Cancer
Awareness Benefit with this years proceeds going to help Aiden Fortherby-Verk and his family. Rebecca’s sister Mya, Katelyn M., Christine F. and Jolene D joined the team and the planning began. So much to do, so little time but with Mya’s event planning skills and creativity and Rebecca’s passion and ideas and everybody’s determination to make it a success everything just started falling into place. I can’t recall how many times I heard “I want to help” or “what can we do?” Posters got printed and tickets sold. A band booked who offered to play for a fraction of their usual pay to help the event. The Old Town Hall was beautifully decorated with lots of homemade snowflakes made and donated by Linda Cybulski and her sister Colleen.
The day of the event was filled with many people who came to the hall to help set up. The hall quickly filled up with donated auction items, food, drinks, linens And decorations. We would like to thank those who dropped by during the day to help with set up as well as those who stayed late into the night to clean up. With the auction items set up (5 tables full of wonderful items), the food from North Market, the beverages chilling, people started to arrive! The Jimmy-Tri-Tone Band started up and the people kept coming in! It was a fantastic night filled with laughs and a true sense of community. It is wonderful how people come together to support local families. From the photo booth to the toonie toss to the chocolate fountain, people had plenty of ways to enjoy themselves.
So many bought tickets although they knew they could not attend, businesses and families 
donated. Corporate sponsorships went towards costs of food, room rental and other expenses. It was a special night, we live in an amazing, kind and generous community. We look forward to planning the 2nd Annual Pediatric Cancer Awareness Benefit and subsequent years which will enable us to support more families that fight the battle of their lives.
Special Thank You To:
The planning team: Jolene Dickinson, Christine Fotherby, Rebecca Keffer, Mya Keffer, Katelyn Munro, Nina Wolstenholme.
To our Corporate Sponsors: Ford Kanata and Deugo Home Services
For Our Delicious Food: North Market, Patrice’s Your Independent Grocer, Edible Sins, HFT Almonte, Baker Bobs, Becca Green
And last but not least, all of the amazing donations to the silent auction:
Absolute Massage Therapy, Acanthus, Almonte Winery, Angel Horne, Anthony St. Dennis, Ashley Clouthier, Baker Bob, Bijoux Bakery, Carleton Place Winery, Cedar Hill Christmas Tree Farm, Chandler Swain, Clayton Home Renovations, Coady’s Car Care, Crush Market Place, Dan and Laurie Lord, Darlene Keffer, Dave and Wendy Deugo, Doug and Annie Craig, DSF Crossfit, Fun Haven, Gilligallau Bird Inc., Goldie Mohr Ltd., Hello Yellow, HFT Almonte, JB Arts, Jean and Paul Sullivan, Jen Toop Thirty One, Judge A Book, L.G. Lee & Sons, Lynn Mayer, McCords Excavating, Mississippi Golf Course, Monique Strathern, Nicholson’s and Pakenham General Store, Palms , Pawsh Pets, Reflections Ottawa, Rising Sun Yoga, Shoppers Drug Mart, Sophie Watts Arbonne, Soul Scents, Tin Barn Market, Wild Kratts, Zoe Dolan , Don’s Meat Market, The Hub, Vamos, Hands on Healing.
Prior Engagements for assistance with planning, linens, wine glasses and so on to help things look fantastic.
Please excuss us if you’ve donated an item, time, or money, and we’ve not listed you above. We are eternally grateful to everyone, for everything.
[wpvideo Fh9iVDqv]
Nina
Leave a Reply