A fundraiser held to benefit Katrina Fontaine, the young woman with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, generated more than $16,000.
A crowd packed Finley’s Irish Bar and Grill last Friday evening with people there for more than just burgers and beer. Between 374 tickets sold, a 50/50 draw and donations, they raised $7,865. Add to that silent auction proceeds and the Fontaine family was blown away by the community support.
“Thank you to everyone who put in such an amazing effort to raise money to help with these surgeries,” said Fontaine on her blog.
In addition to the evening fundraiser, $16,297 has been raised in an online effort with a $100,000 goal.
Fontaine needs help paying for surgeries, available in the US, which will help improve her quality of life. EDS is a rare illness that causes a breakdown of the collagen in the body.
Fontaine has just returned home to Nelson from Maryland where she had two spinal surgeries in six days after which she was put on complete bed rest.
Since being allowed up, the 26-year-old was able to walk with no pain in her legs or feet for the “first time in my life.”
“I wish I could convey the excitement that I have over the improvements I’ve already seen and everything that has happened,” Fontaine said.