There weren't many dry eyes as more than 150 viewers watched the slide show at the Forest Grove Legion on March 11.
The gathering was for the fundraiser aimed at helping Ayzac Wilson and his family cope with a serious health condition in that family.
Ayzac, as you may recall from previous articles, is a seven-month-old boy living in the Grove, but doing so in a very tenuous way. His fight with the ongoing symptoms of mitochondrial disease leaves him and his family in an extremely uncomfortable state.
In order for us to understand their plight, the Wilsons prepared a slide show introducing everyone to little Ayzac and to the problems his disease presents on a daily basis. As the photos ran by, we were all given a glimpse of what it must be like for this little family to sit in a state of dread, not knowing what lies ahead tomorrow.
The fight inside this little guy and the courage of the family members was more evident with each picture.
Ayzac and his mom, Krystal, unfortunately were not present to see the outpouring of support from their fellow community members. They were at BC Children's Hospital in Vancouver to deal with yet another setback for little Ayzac.
This time it was pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas with side-effects, such as severe abdominal pain accented with bouts of nausea and vomiting.
To help the family handle Ayzac's costly diet and trips to Vancouver, community members pitched in at a fundraiser. It started at the front entrance where a donation got your wrist stamped making you eligible for a spaghetti dinner with salad and garlic bread.
To round out the evening, dessert was supplied while guests participated in a silent auction of many donated items, took part in door prize raffles, entered a 50/50 draw and danced to background music.
Everyone had a great time and no expense was spared as people offered financial gifts, all with the aim of helping Ayzac and his family.
In an earlier article, 17 firms or organizations were cited as donors to this worthy cause. Some late entrants to participate in this effort were Community Parent's Advisory Committee, Rural School Society, Forest Grove Legion Kitchen, Interlakes Lion's Club, and 139 Children's Fund.
As more than 20 corporate givers, together with countless personal donors, rallied to show their support to one of Forest Grove's special families in need, that family felt the care and concern of strangers trying to make a difference.
As the evening continued, Lorna Faulkner, Ayzac's grandmother, went around the room wearing a special green T-shirt garnering signatures from well-wishers for the ailing absentee guest-of-honour. Everyone wanted to be on that T-shirt and people lined up to add their signature or best wishes. All the signed T-shirts hang in a special place at BC Children's Hospital.
Monday evening's tally of funds raised to date was ball-parked at around the $10,000 mark. There are, however, a few significant pledges expected and they will send the final figure well over the current amount.
In a follow-up meeting, I had a sense the members of the Wilson family circle were overwhelmed by this outreach and felt a huge sense of gratitude toward everyone who had stepped forward to do their part to add to the quality of life of a little soldier called Ayzac Wilson.
Grove news
Garth McLean, one of the organizers of the Forest Grove Curling Club, says a meeting will be held at the community hall at 7 p.m. on March 25.
He and his fellow organizers will provide updated information regarding the status of the curling club refrigeration equipment.
If you are into curling and would like to see the old curling centre reopened, go to this meeting and show your support.
The well-equipped old curling facility has the potential of being a great sports centre for the Grove.
