Taking flight
Fundraiser bringing night of music, fun to Truro
For Shelley Austin, helping others helps her heal.
After the death of her son Lucas, in 2014, she continued working on ‘Lead With Your Heart,’ a mental health program he and his girlfriend were developing. This marks the third year the program has held a special fundraising evening for mental health programs.
“Lucas was doing tango and busking to raise money for mental health,” said Shelley. “He felt doing anything creative helped. It uses a different part of your brain and it’s kind of a distraction.”
‘Lead With Your Heart’ has raised more than $16,000 each year and continues to keep creativity involved, supporting a local CMHA Art Works program, Outsider Insight and local gatherings for people with mental health issues. It also supports programs for children and adolescents at Laing House, in Halifax.
“It’s growing and it feels good to have a presence in the community and to help,” said Shelley. “Every year there’s a theme for the fundraiser and this year we’re calling it ‘Lead With Your Heart Takes Flight’ because Lucas was really big into travel.”
Travel will be part of the event in more than name, as there will be a raffle for a trip valued at $2,000.
Musician Chad Peck will be opening, with Roxy and the Underground Soul Sound providing music during most of the evening.
“There will be good, fun music because the idea is to create a fun night,” added Austin. “Lucas was always about fun.”
Tickets for the event, which will be held at the Holiday Inn on Saturday, Oct. 21, from 7 to 11:30 p.m., are $25 and are available at Sea Shell design, MacQuarrie’s Pharmasave (Esplanade location), My HOME Apparel and online at .https://www.eventbrite. ca/e/lead-with-your-heart-takes-flight-tickets-36156666563