Conseil Immaculèe Conception # 9693

2001/2002/2003/2004/2005/2006

2001

After a successful Wild Game dinner in April 2001, the proceeds were presented to the family of five year old Brennan Howe. Brennan has a rare form of cancer.
In the picture are from Left to Right, Rob Howe, the father of Brennan, Serge Baribeau, supper co-chairman, Norb King, Chancellor, Bob Branquet, co-chairman, and Lisa Howe, her mother.

Photo courtesy Holly Lake, Chatham Daily News

Defibrillator donated to Fire Department

G. K. Roger Sterling presents a cheque to Fire Chief, S. K. Joe Benoit while Scott Crowe [St. Philippe's Ushers Club] and Tim Lusk, vice-president of the Dover Firefighters' Association, look on. The moneys donated will go to purchase a Defibrillator to be used by the fire-fighters.

[courtesy Bob Boughner of the Chatham Daily News]

Wild Game Dinner nets $9000

2002

The Immaculate Comception Council along with Bob n' Buoys Restaurant, held a successful wild game dinner to help a deserving family of Pain Court. This is an annual event for the Council. In this case, the deserving youngster is 9 year old Alyson who is suffering from Cerebral Palsy. The money will be used to help the family renovate a bathroom to make it more accessible for her. Picture shows, Laurie Laprise, Bob Branquet [both of the Restaurant], Norb King, and Serge Brisebois [both members of the Council], presenting the cheque to the family - Alyson, Guyann, and Kaitlyn Rossignol-Smoke.

[Courtesy Pam Wright "Chatham Daily News"]

HELPING JESSICA

2003

The Knights of Columbus Council 9693 annual wild game dinner raised $12,000 to help the family of Jessica Howe purchase assistive devices and do renovations to their Grande Pointe home. Jessica, who has cerebral palsy, is getting a new bathroom lift, change table and whirlpool tub for her physio-thèrapy. The money will also help to modify doorways to allow Jessica's wheelchair to move freely through the home: If there is enough money, the family will also install a lift and change table in Jessica's bedroom.

Michelle Howes, front left, and Jessica receive a cheque for $12,000 from Norb King, Deputy Knight of Council 9693 and chairman of the wild game dinner. Also pictured is Jessica's father Ron Tetrault, back left, along with wild game co-chairs Bob Bechard, Lauri Laprise and Serge Baribeau. This is the most money raised in the 10-year history of the event.

[Courtesy Diana Martin, "Chatham Daily News"]

Wild game dinner raises $10,000 for local children

2004

Feasting for a cause - Chris McGregor Photo

WILD GAME FUNDRAISER: Cole Walker, left, and Myles McLellan, check out some of the items up for auction at a Knights of Columbus wild game dinner Sunday in Pain Court.

By Chris McGregor - The Daily News
PAIN COURT —Residents feasting on wild game raised about $10,000 for Cole Walker and Myles McLellan Sunday.

Pain Court Knights of Columbus hold the annual event at Immaculate Conception Church to assist children in need.
Both the Walker and McLellan families said they will use the money to purchase equipment or pay for medical treatments for their sons —both of whom are battling brain tumours.
"His last MRI was stable," said Lisa Walker, the mother of fiveyear-old Cole.
She said Cole needs an MRI every three months to ensure there is no growth in the tumour.

"We have a great deal of faith and we believe a miracle will happen," she said.
Cole eagerly talked about a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida last September.
"We went on the pirate ride. I got a pirate hat," the Our Lady of Fatima School student said.
Myles' mother Susan said her son's last MRI, two weeks ago, also came back stable.
This past week, Myles had a neuropsych assessment to determine the extent of brain damage.
"Myles' brain is continuing to deteriorate," Susan said. She explained he is at the age where other children with Myles' condition usually succumb.
"This is a make it or break it year," Susan said.
If his tumour expands, he will need a stem cell rescue to replace cancerous white blood cells with healthy ones.
Susan said if that happens, a search for a compatible donor is needed.
The family is considering taking Myles to the United States for the procedure as techniques not found in Ontario are available there.
Canadian Tire. Leon's Furniture and Laurie's Catering sponsored the 11th annual dinner.
K of C member Norb King said the club sold 260 tickets.

[Courtesy Chris McGregor, "Chatham Daily News"]

Families share wealth

2005
Splitting Proceeds By Ellwood Shreve [The Daily News] PAIN COURT - Two families from this small community are benefitting from an annual fundraiser that's been a tradition for 12 years. Seven-year-old Luke Murphy, who is recovering from leukemia, and Nancy Blommers, born with cerebral palsy, and her mother Yvette, shared in the $10,000 raised during the annual Wild Game Dinner and Auction at Immaculee Conception Roman Catholic Church, April 3. The money was given to the families Sunday. "It's really nice for the community to be so generous," said Luke's mother Nicola. Luke, who was diagnosed with acute lymphatic leukemia on his third birthday, is recovered to the point he's off treatment,' said Nicola Murphy. "He's doing very well," she said, noting he goes for follow up checks because the greatest chance for relapse is the first year off treatment.		Ellwood Shreve Photo - These two Pain Court families, Yvette Blommers, left, and her daughter Nancy, who has cerebral palsy, and the Murphys Luke, 7, on bicycle, who is in remission from leukemia, his dad Steve, brothers Braden, 12, middle, and Daniel, 11, and sister Sydney, 4, hiding behind mom Nicola were the beneficiaries of the 12th annual Wild Game Supper and Auction. The event raised $10,000 for the families to share.

Although Luke is on themend, Murphy said the family, incurred a lot of expenses when travelling back and forth to London almost daily for treatment.
The money couldn't come at a better time for Yvette Blommers, whose minivan was recently recovered after being stolen. She relies on the van,, which has a lift, to transport her adult daughter Nancy. Insurance covered most of the cost for the repairs, but Blommers said she had tocover the $500 deductible.
With summer around the corner, she also needs the air conditioning repaired on her 1992 Caravan as well as have it painted to prevent it from rusting out.
"This is the best thing to happen to us this year," Blommers said with a big smile.
The event is organized by the local Knights of Columbus with the help of Laurie's Catering.
Norb King, an organizer of the event, thanked the community for its support as well as the contributions from service clubs, local businesses and various organizations, that make it a success.

Courtesy: Ellwood Shreve [The Daily News]

K of C helps kids
Capers, Vella-Zarbs benefit from annual wild game dinner


2006
	HELPING CHILDREN: Madison Caper, 4, far left, Annette Vella-Zarb, daughter Ashley, two and-a-half years, and Doug Capers along with daughter Faith, 8 months, will benefit from the 13th annual wild game and auction put on by the Knights of Columbus Council 9693 in Pain Court Sunday afternoon. [Photo: Diana Martin] PAIN COURT -- This year's been tough, so far, for Doug Capers. It started off with tragedy when his wife Laura died, at age 25, of a blood clot on New Year's Eve, related to the birth of their second child, Faith. "It's been an adventure to say the least," Capers said. His daughters Madison, 4, and Faith, eight-months, have been coping with their mother's death, he added.
Life got a little easier to cope with for the Wallaceburg family, thanks to the 13th annual wild game and auction, organized by the Knights of Columbus Council 9693 and held Sunday in the basement of the Immaculee Conception Roman Catholic Church. The meal is sponsored by Bob N Buoys and Laurie's Catering. Half of the approximate $15,000 expected to be raised from the event will be used to set up an education trust fund for Madison and Faith. Another special little girl will also benefit from the event. The money will help make life a little easier for two-and-a-half year-old Ashley Vella-Zarb and her mother Annette. Ashley was born, with Pfeiffer Syndrome, a rare genetic disease that causes head and facial deformities. Her mother said the money will be used for specialized equipment, such as a walker, and to cover the cost of going to Toronto for appointments at The Hospital for Sick Children. Both parents appreciate the support they are getting from this event, which receives support from such sponsors as Tim Hortons, Canadian Tire and Leon's Furniture and Appliances. The event, which sells out every year, is also well supported by the community. "It makes me feel so good all of these people here care so much for my little Ashley," her mother Annette said. "I think, it's wonderful," said Capers. He said the support and generosity he's received from the community since his wife died is amazing. "It's overwhelming, really," he added. Norb King, chairman of the wild game dinner, said "this is for the kids. That's the way it's always been." Bob Branquet, owner of Bob N Buoys, said the event "is a hot ticket" every year. He credits that to the organization of it and to the hard work by the many volunteers involved in making the event a success. [Courtesy: Ellwood Shreve & Diana Martin - Chatham Daily News]

Moment captured by Great Grandfather, Tom Vella-Zarb

KIDS BENEFIT FROM EVENT

MITCHELL'S BAY — Three Chatham-Kent children will benefit from proceeds from a recent wild game dinner and auction. The 13th annual event was sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 9693 of Pain Court. Proceeds from the dinner and auction — a project started 13 years age by Norb King and Bob Branquet — are used each year to assist families of needy children.
The $15,000 raised this year was divided between the Capar family of Wallaceburg and the Vella-Zarb family of Chatham.
Doug Capar's 25-year-old wife, Laura, died from a blood clot on New Year's Day, leaving two youngsters behind. They are four-year-old Madison and nine-month-old Faith.
Annette Vella-Zarb's three-year-old daughter Ashley suffers from a rare disease — Pfeiffer Syndrome. She is one of less than a half-dozen Canadian children with the disease and has undergone more than a dozen operations in Toronto. "We are glad to be able to financially assist the families of these young, deserving children," King said Sunday. [Courtesy: Bob Boughner - The Daily News]

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