Youth club still waiting on donation

Beer bandit’s viral success spurred Go Fund Me campaign

Ronnie Talbot and Terry with the stupid hair who stole his beer may or may not be real, but the money raised through a Go Fund Me campaign to replace Talbot’s beer is.

That money was promised to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cape Breton-Whitney Pier Youth Club but they still haven’t received it.

“We weren’t anticipating getting any money from it. It was after the fact that they reached out and then said online that they were going to donate it,” Rayanne Rogers, administration and special events for the club, said during a phone interview.

The Go Fund Me campaign was started by Matt Murphy and a friend. Murphy reached out to Rogers on Oct. 10 to set up a time on Oct. 11 to drop off the cheque. He also sent Rogers a picture of what appears to be a cashier’s cheque from TD Bank for $361.

Murphy contacted the Cape Breton Post to be there for the presentation but he didn’t show up. When contacted, Murphy said his friend was unable to make it but he would reschedule.

Over the next few weeks, Rogers and Murphy exchanged messages via Facebook. Murphy told her he was ill and asked if she could come pick the cheque up. Since she only knows him via Facebook Rogers wasn’t comfortable with that.

“It appears he has been quite ill for a while,” Rogers said.

Through text messages with the Cape Breton Post, Murphy said he is still planning to donate the money but due to medical problems and misplacing the cheque during a move, he hasn’t been able to do so yet.

“I have a CAT scan Friday. I’ll try to get to the bank then and I’ll mail it,” he said.

Rogers hopes the donation comes through and admits she is “frustrated” the donation hasn’t gotten to them. In the past, they have had people publicly say they are donating, but then they don’t.

“They could have done something nice. You know, just empty promises. It’s the last thing kids need are empty promises,” she said.