Seems there is no end to giving in the Cowichan Lake area. The love and respect at Saturday night’s community fundraiser for the Newman family was palpable.
After Charlie Newman — who went to school here and is the son of Lake residents Anne and Dick Newman — was involved in a horrible motor vehicle accident on Highway 18 last month and is now in hospital facing a long road to recovery, the community rallied together to show their support.
When it seemed that phone calls, visits and emails just weren’t enough, the community organized a family fundraiser to help the Newmans.
Not just because they volunteer in the community, not because they regularly attended community events and not because they were always willing to help others in need, but because they were members of this community who needed a hand..
There was no shortage of giving by the residents and businesses to help raise money for Charlie and his family’s future.
This was evident at Centennial Hall on Saturday night as hundreds of people filled the hall to donate to the Newmans. There was a plethora of silent auction items, from baskets of goodies to barbecues to certificates for services to a ski get-away package that helped to raise thousands of dollars.
After some letters were read to the crowd, Laurie Johnson — one of the organizers of the evening — said that she went to school with Charlie and that she knew that he would want everyone to have a good time. Music by Jan Matthews in Overdrive and food cooked and served by the Lake Cowichan Fire Department helped make the evening a night to remember.
To date, the astounding amount raised in a 12 day period is $33,644!
“The 12 day Newman Family Fundraiser was organized by the volunteers of our community, but was successful from the outpouring support of the Cowichan Valley and beyond.” declared Johnson
Best wishes to Charlie for a speedy recovery, his family and Anne and Dick. The community is pulling for you.