An annual private archery event recently held near Crestomere has aided in the medical journey of a Ponoka girl and her family.
Hope Trimble-Willis and her family have faced much hardship after she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer late last year and also continues to battle a rare infectious disease called cryptosporidium.
To help with the financial challenges the family began using gofundme.com and a fundraiser banquet was held in Trimble-Willis’s honor on May 29.
After reading about the plight of the family in the newspaper, competition organizer Shane Jensen knew a portion of the money raised this year would go to them.
“We hold an archery event every year and every year we do something for a local charity,” said Jensen, who organizes the events with the support of his wife Tammy.
“We were able to raise $35,000 for charity,” he added.
Jensen donated $15,000 to Trimble-Willis and her family and the rest was given to Samaritans Purse.
“We tracked her down to her house and presented a cheque,” said Jensen. He says, at first the pleased family thought the donation was for $1,500 and when they realized the true amount they were elated.
This was the fourth annual archery event and hosted 273 archers. “We’re good pay-it-forward people,” said Jensen.
“We’re just helpful people,” he added.