Successful Angels Within Us annual fundraiser

Angels Within Us holds 3rd annual fundraiser event
T. Lucas photos

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

The Third Annual Angels Within Us benefit was held at the Pincher Creek Community Hall on December 1, 2012. Angels Within Us is a community foundation that helps families in crisis in town or in the MD of Pincher Creek. The program for the evening for the 360 who attended included a steak dinner, desserts, speeches and presentations, a live and a silent auction, and live music by the group Superficial from Calgary.

4-H Silver Reins Club volunteers cleared away the dinner.  Steaks were prepared by Stacey Stauffer and Bryan Mackenzie and the rest of the meal was put together by Simply Catering.  Some of the comments regarding the dinner included "outstanding", "fantastic", "phenomenal", and "yummy".

Sherry Mackenzie

Angels Within Us President Sherry Mackenzie was effusive in her thanks to everyone involved with the evening, and its very evident success.  She introduced her board members and mentioned the work that both the board and the spouses of the board do to make it all happen.  She thanked the donators and sponsors, and the many people who purchased something at the event.  She appreciated the other organizations that support the event, including Oldtimers Hockey and Silver Reins 4-H that helped everything run smoothly.  She also acted as Emcee, introducing representatives of two families that have benefited from Angels Within Us, giving them the chance to address directly the people in the community that have helped them.

Johanna Nickle speaks as Sherry Mackenzie looks on

Johanna Nickle walked onto the stage with a steady stride.  "I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis twenty seven years ago.  In May, the neurologist told me that the MS was progressive, and there was nothing else they could do.  I felt really hopeless,"  said Nickle.  A friend helped point the way to Angels Within Us, and potential treatments.  "Within two weeks, I was in California, and I had the Liberation treatment.  By the grace of God, and each and everyone of you here that donate and care for this so selflessly I have a new life.  Coming from a wheel chair, I feel like I'm a normal person, just like everybody else.  The word thanks doesn't seem adequate   I will do everything I can to pay it forward.  Thank you so much," Nickle said.

Claire McMaster and his wife Holly addressed the crowd next.  "We have two children, Connor, our son who's seven, and Kylie our daughter who's six."  Claire explained that his daughter "Has developmental delays that prevent her from walking or talking."  Claire said that Kylie was recently diagnosed with Lennox–Gastaut Syndrome, a rare and severe form of epilepsy. "She's still the happiest little girl that you'd ever get a chance to meet," he said proudly.  The McMaster family looked into converting their family van to be equipped for wheelchair access, but it wasn't feasible due to the van's design.    Angels Within Us arranged for a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan  fitted with a rear wheelchair lift to help the family to be able to move forward and travel as a family with less physical and financial stress.  To explain the difference this makes on the lives of the family Claire said "We can bring her for simple trips, down to the post office, or just for a drive, things I think everybody kind of takes for granted.  We were only taking Kylie for doctors appointments or school before, and now we can go anywhere with her."

According to Claire, after a long difficult day at the Children's Hospital in Calgary he put his daughter to bed and went to run errands while Holly tried to settle Connor down for the night between 9:30 and 10 pm.  Claire was gone for about ten minutes and arrived home to his son and wife jumping up and down with elation yelling "We get a van, We get a van!"  Michelle Duncan from Angels Within Us phoned to inform the family that they had been gifted the fully equipped van.  "When my son tells the story, he likes to say that 'Mom was mad that they phoned us'," as Holly was irritated at the phone ringing while putting the children down for the night. This anecdote had the audience roaring with laughter.  "We were hoping for some help, but we were blown away. It's made such a huge difference.  You're all directly responsible for improving our lives, and we are truly grateful for that. Not only has this event helped my life, and Holly's life, but it has brightened our daughters life, and that's something we can't thank you enough for, so  thank you very much," said Claire.

Miss Rodeo Pincher Creek Chelsea Stokke

Bryan Mackenzie took to the stage and reminded the crowd that the evening is just one day of the work that goes on in the organization. "This event is over for most of you tonight.  For the angels on the committee, it starts tomorrow  preparing for next year.  I think they do a wonderful job.  I don't think there is a single recipient of the Angels Within Us that wouldn't trade places with the people who do the donating, rather than be on the receiving end."  Bryan introduced auctioneer Frank Jenkins who worked the microphone to announce for 27 different lots that ranged from vacations, dinners, beef packages, advertising packages, and various other goods and services.  One of the more unique items was Jenny, a 12 year old donkey that was such a hot-ticket item that phone bids came in for her.  Jenny earned  $1650 for the auction. Another hot item was a Mike Keane Celebrity Hockey Classic Jersey donated by Dean and Tammy Kennedy.  The jersey was signed by five Hockey Hall of Fame inductees:  Ray Bourque, Paul Coffey, Bryan Trottier, Billy Smith and Lanny MacDonald.

Miss Rodeo Pincher Creek Chelsea Stokke helped by displaying the items up for bid to the crowd as members of Southern Alberta Livestock Exchange took bids. People kept checking on the silent auction bids throughout the night, excited about putting the winning bid the many items on display.

Superficial

After the dinner was done and tables were cleared away the four-piece band Superficial took to the stage.  The group played high energy selections from the 1960's to the modern era, including Johnny Cash and the Beatles songs.  the band donated their performance.

According to Sherry Mackenzie the evening was a great success, partially due to so many of the local businesses choosing to hold their staff Christmas party at it.  "We helped 12 families in 2 years.  All these little fundraisers pop up, and they're done by the family during a time of great stress.  This will help alleviate that.  They can come to us and we can hopefully help these families."

Silver Reins 4-H volunteers at the door