This year's re-imagined Light Up the Night fundraiser brought in more than $90,000 for the Airdrie Health Foundation.

In lieu of the usual gala, which couldn't go ahead due to concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Airdrie Health Foundation hosted a number of virtual events including a Pour Art Night with local artist Verone Solilo, two virtual winemaker nights featuring winemakers from Portugal and Argentina, an online auction, and a virtual concert featuring Brett Kissel.

aiser and sponsors were able to help cover costs, meaning the $90,000 raised will go as far as possible.

Bates said one of the fundraising goals this year was for a mental health assessment room at Airdrie Urgent Care. Thanks to donations of more than $5,000 from W.H. Croxford's annual Movement for Mental Health event and $22,800 from TC Energy, the room will become a reality.

"This will be a renovation being done to a current room," Bates said. "It will actually add a room to our current Urgent Care, taking it from 13 beds to 14 beds which will help alleviate wait times. But more importantly it'll be a room for proper assessments, a safe environment for staff and patients."

Airdrie Urgent Care is currently limiting who goes in and out of the facility due to COVID-19 but Bates said they will start the renovation as soon as they are able to. Once complete, it will be named 'Lane's Room' in memory of Bate's five-year-old son who passed away suddenly in 2009 and her reason for starting the Airdrie Health Foundation.

Brett Kissel himself also made a generous donation to the Foundation after hearing Lane's story. 

"He went above and beyond," said Bates. "He seems to have taken a personal interest. He's a parent with little kids and after hearing our story I think it really touched his heart so he and his wife actually made a personal donation of $5,000."

Then the Alberta-born country star decided to sweeten the deal.

"If anybody out there wants to donate $2,500 and send it to the Airdrie Health Foundation, anybody who does that, I'm going to sign a guitar. One of my touring guitars, it's a Gibson Epiphone, and I will autograph it, customize it to whoever you want," he said during his concert. "If you donate $5,000 I'm going to give you two guitars. If you do $7,500 I'll give you three guitars. Could you imagine if we got 10 of them and we made $25,000? Could you imagine if we got 20 guitars and made $50,000?"

Anyone who wants to take advantage of his offer can make a donation to the Airdrie Health Foundation by November 1 by clicking HERE.

Meantime, Bates said plans are already in the works for the 2021 Light Up the Night fundraiser. She hopes to be able to have the usual gala again, but said at least they have some ideas for fun virtual options if need be. 

 

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