The fundraiser event for Callie’s Perfect Heart was a huge success as the community came out in droves to support the cause and to be served dinner by the Mounties in their Red Serge at the Agassiz Legion on May 13, raising close to $10,000 for the family.
Callie and her family were in attendance, and were openly moved by the coming together of the community to help them on their journey to find Callie her perfect heart match.
Callie is 24 years old, and has suffered from heart problems since birth. This has resulted in multiple surgeries to repair her heart over the years. When Callie turned 19, she was officially diagnosed with heart failure.
A new heart is required for Callie, and not just any heart, as she can only accept a heart from three per cent of the population due to built up antibodies from blood transfusions.
The event not only provided a quality meal, served by dedicated Mounties, and provided by Lori’s Catering but demonstrated that when there is need in the community, people step up to help, and a lot can be accomplished.
Callie’s mom, Liz Blackmore was formerly with the Agassiz RCMP, and the idea for the fundraiser stemmed from former colleagues, Cst. Teresa Parsons and Kathi Scott, who maintain that once someone is part of the RCMP family, they are always a member of the family.
“At first we thought we would just pass a hat around the office, and we raised $1000 that way and then we thought why not do a little more,” said Parsons. “We were blown away by the positive response, and we’re praying for the family.”
The money raised will go a long way to helping Callie and her family with the expenses associated with her treatment. Callie’s transplant team is located at St. Pauls Hospital in Toronto, where the family has moved to increase the chances of Callie, finding a perfect match.
Callie also has a GoFundme page, and British Columbians have shown their support for Callie and her family. The fundraising initiative was $30,000, and this event, along with the support of the Agassiz RCMP, who raised $5,000 on their own accord will go along way to seeing that happen.