Fundraiser wants to pump you up
Eclectic Attic NL hopes to raise money for insulin pumps through fundraiser walk
Group raising funds for diabetes aid
Friends of Eclectic Attic NL Don O’Keefe and Jamie Hogan will dress in drag today and walk for a cause. The duo will walk from the Village mall to Bannerman Park to raise money to cover the cost of insulin pumps for those in need.
Eclectic Attic NL is an online, not-for-profit organization that holds community auctions to raise funds for people who require financial assistance for medical expenses.
The last auction aimed to raise $14,000 to cover the cost of two insulin pumps valued at $7,000 each (it is Eclectic Attic NL’s policy to not disclose the names of the recipients).
After raising $4,000 from the auction, which ended July 17, Hogan and O’Keefe decided to help raise the rest of the funds for the pumps.
Sporting dresses, pantyhose, wigs and makeup, the two will carry purses to collect donations from passersby.
“If someone gives a $5 donation or some change, we can just throw it in our bags. We’re going to be bringing roses along with us, and anybody who gives a donation of $10 or more gets a free rose,” says O’Keefe, who runs O’Keefe’s Flowers in Goulds.
The route is approximately 6 km and will end with a trip down Duckworth St. after reaching Bannerman Park. The walk will start at 5:30 p.m. and is expected to take two hours.
Hogan and O’Keefe will make their final stop at Club One, where people are welcome to visit and make a contribution.
“The outfit I put on is incredible,” O’Keefe says, adding he may even put it up for auc- tion.
“If I was dating a woman who had that dress on, I’d be flabbergasted. I’ve got this big ol’ red wig and this wide-brimmed hat. It’s just going to be too hilarious.”
Aside from wanting to make people laugh, O’Keefe hopes the outfits will help them capture the attention of charitable onlookers.
“That’s what this thing is about. It’s about fun, and when you can do that and you can benefit somebody who’s really in desperate need of a medical thing that they can’t afford, what else would you want to be doing?” O’Keefe says.
All proceeds from the walk will go towards the purchase of insulin pumps, and if they are able to raise more than their goal, Eclectic Attic NL will be able to provide more financial assistance to people who need it.
The walk is dedicated to Hogan’s father, who he lost to diabetes, as well as Joey Spry, a friend of the organization who passed away this week.
O’Keefe also personally dedicates the walk to his wife, Marg, who lost her battle with cancer.
“I’m not getting anything out of this other than the fact that I can go to bed at night and I sleep really well with a smile on my face,” he says.
Eclectic Attic NL was started by Catherine Murrin and Matthew Cave a year ago.
In addition to putting on fundraising auctions, the organization focuses on promoting local artists by selling their original products.
For more information about Eclectic Attic NL, visit www.facebook.com/CommunityAuctionsFundraisers.