A local man recovering from an oilfield accident that took his leg got a bit of help from young rock 'n' rollers Feb. 2. According to Wright Family Fundraiser organizer, Cindy Bacque, an Innisfail resident, the event was also an opportunity to bring a message of workplace safety to the larger Red Deer area.
“I grew up in an oilfield family,” Bacque said. “It's important to raise awareness about what can happen.”
The all-ages event held at Slumland Theater featured a silent auction, photo booth, performances by Black Mountain Outlaws, Burning Daisy and Nobodies Achievement, and a comedian/magician, and raised about $2,800 to help support Ken Wright, who recently started using a new prosthetic leg.
Sheila Brunwald from Red Deer County also helped with the fundraiser, which attracted a handful of young kids earlier in the evening and included an online auction component, as well.
“The kids could participate and have a good time,” Bacque said. “It's been pretty successful.”
She had approached Desire Marshall, owner of Slumland Theater about doing a fundraiser, but they decided to hold off until after Christmas so they didn't overlap with the fundraiser held at the Fox and Hound in December.
Colin Langstraat, drummer and backup vocalist from Innisfail-based Nobodies Achievement, said he was glad to help out a family from his hometown.
“It was a good cause – to help a family who's been through as much as they have,” he said, noting the band played two originals and covers from groups like Escape the Fate, Black Tide and Metallica.
Khoal McMillan, lead vocalist says the band was happy to volunteer themselves for the cause.
“We got more and more into it as the day got closer,” he said, noting he thought the comedian/magician did a good job. “He was quite funny.”
Tammy Wright, Ken's wife, said the family appreciates all the support, and says the money will go to help their four kids visit their dad in the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital in Edmonton next month.
“They'll need to do more knee surgeries” on his left leg, she said. “Ken's case is classified as very difficult and unusual.”
