Fundraiser aims to help B.C. infant awaiting heart transplant in Edmonton
Students, faculty and community members joined a fundraiser at Vancouver Career College in Abbotsford on Saturday to benefit a baby girl in need of a heart transplant.
Nine-month-old Rennah was born with mitral regurgitation and cardiomyopathy, which means a valve in her heart does not work properly, according to the GoFundMe page for her family's expenses.
Rennah's mother Aiesha - a Vancouver Career College student - and the rest of her family are currently staying with the child in Edmonton, awaiting a heart transplant.
As of Saturday, the online fundraiser was still $15,000 short of its $50,000 goal, something the in-person fundraiser aimed to change.
Alison Patchett is a social services worker instructor at the college and one of the organizers of the fundraiser. She said students had organized a host of activities, including a garage sale, a barbecue, haircuts and nail painting by donation, raffle baskets and a silent auction.
The centrepiece of the fundraiser, however, was the "Locked Up for Love" event, which saw college staff and local officials locked up and a "bail" amount set for each one. The individuals would not be released until they had raised enough money to meet their "bail."
The college planned to match every dollar raised by the community during Saturday's event with two additional dollars, tripling the overall impact of the fundraiser, according to the college's Facebook page.
"As (social service work) students, we want to support, as much as possible, anybody in our community or surrounding community that is in need," Patchett said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, Ontario police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Motion to allow keffiyehs at Ontario legislature fails
A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
Allman Brothers Band co-founder and legendary guitarist Dickey Betts dies at 80
Guitar legend Dickey Betts, who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band and wrote their biggest hit, 'Ramblin' Man,' has died. He was 80.
Taylor Swift's new album allegedly 'leaked' on social media and it's causing a frenzy
A Google Drive link allegedly containing 17 tracks that are purportedly from Swift's eagerly awaited "The Tortured Poets Department" album has been making the rounds on the internet in the past day and people are equal parts mad, sad and happy about it.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.
Lack of detention space could force CBSA to release detainees, internal memo warns
The Canada Border Services Agency is scrambling to find space to hold high-risk detainees that are set to be transferred from provincial jails in June.
What does it mean to be 'house poor' and how can you avoid it?
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.