Public responds to plea for help
Donations will help family dealing with Huntington’s disease
A plea for help for a Glace Bay family dealing with Huntington’s disease has been answered.
“There are so many people and businesses who have been so good to contribute who I wish I could name but there’s just too many,” said Michelle McInnis.
To date more than $23,000 has been raised for the family of Darrell Campbell and his wife Judy, who suffers with Huntington’s disease.
McInnis, a family friend, organized a benefit dance and silent auction at the Main Event in Glace Bay on Saturday that raised $9,820 and another $6,260 in donations was also collected.
A Go Fund Me campaign called Reaching out for Judy — Huntingtons at https://www. gofundme.com/reachingout-for-judy has so fair raised $7,400.
The money will be used to install an elevator lift as well as make modifications to the Campbell home, all of which will make it easier for Judy, who now lives at Seaview Manor, to visit.
McInnis said they recently received an estimate of about $20,000 for the lift and renovations.
“We want everyone to know how grateful we are for their support, how touched we are everyone has come together like this to help this wonderful family,” McInnis said.
“I was overwhelmed by the turnout at the benefit and seeing people I hadn’t seen in years and years.”
Darrell Campbell, 54, has worked as a mechanic with Cape Breton Hyundai for 33 years, and Judy, 52, worked as a passenger screener at the Sydney airport.
In June 2008, Judy was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease however she had been showing symptoms for years. In June of last year she moved to Seaview Manor.
McInnis said the show of public support alone has also given the family a huge boost.
She said people started coming in for the benefit at 4 p.m. and the place was packed all night.
“Judy smiled the whole night, there were so many of her friends there,” McInnis said. “She even had a girlfriend who use to work at the airport come down from Halifax, the whole crew from the airport was there. Even Darrell’s union came through. I was really moved by it.
“You wouldn’t believe what a beautiful night it was, despite the reason it was held.”
She said it is heart-warming as people the family doesn’t even know from North Sydney to Whitney Pier have been calling with donations and people from all over are contributing to the Go Fund Me page.
“There are so many people we don’t know who are donating. People are so good and we are thankful.”