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Towns rallying for family

Foothills residents will stop at nothing to help one of their own. After residents across the region spent the last six months offering assistance to Turner Valley RCMP Const.
Kira Perdue sits with her son, William, in their Black Diamond home. A fundraiser for the family, whose father Jeremy has cancer, will be held Nov. 28 in Turner Valley.
Kira Perdue sits with her son, William, in their Black Diamond home. A fundraiser for the family, whose father Jeremy has cancer, will be held Nov. 28 in Turner Valley.

Foothills residents will stop at nothing to help one of their own.

After residents across the region spent the last six months offering assistance to Turner Valley RCMP Const. Jeremy Perdue, his wife Kira and their five children since Perdue was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia six months ago, their efforts haven’t slowed.

In addition to friends, neighbours and strangers giving the family gas cards, free babysitting, groceries and money that allowed the Perdues to purchase a newer vehicle, Turner Valley Mayor Kelly Tuck rallied the support of more people to host the Jeremy Perdue benefit fundraiser.

It will feature live music and a silent auction at the Woodstock Hotel, formerly the Turner Valley Hotel, Nov. 28 at 6 p.m.

“We always come together and we always help each other out,” said Tuck of the community.

Tuck said she is never surprised by the kindness of residents to help one of their own and expects that thoughtfulness will be evident this weekend.

“I’m anticipating we’ll have a really good turnout because of who Turner Valley and Black Diamond and the Foothills are,” she said. “It only seems natural that we would help. There’s always extra costs that incur when someone is undergoing cancer.”

Tuck collected several items for the silent auction from various individuals, merchants and companies across the Foothills and Calgary the past few weeks.

They include Calgary Flames tickets and parking pass, a patio heater, camera and Bernie Brown art.

Tuck also created a Facebook page called Fundraiser for Perdue Family, which has more than 180 members and lists the silent auction items.

Tuck’s call for help reached Woodstock Hotel owner David “Blackie” Lawrence, who agreed to supply his hotel and pay for entertainment for the evening.

“I don’t know the family but I’ve lived here all my life and I feel sympathetic,” said Lawrence. “That’s a lot of kids and cancer is a really horrible thing. I feel for the family… and I know they need all the help they can get. My dad had it and he went through all the stuff and he lived another 10 years after that.”

Lawrence said he reached out to various musicians in the area to perform and got a positive response.

“Anybody I asked I said, ‘It’s for a good cause’ and they said they’re going to come,” he said. “I know we will have a really good turnout because of the cause. It’s a big deal.”

Lawrence rounded up local musicians to play throughout the evening, including Snake Oil Whiskey, which will perform its array of southern rock, blues and outlaw country covers from 9 p.m. until after midnight.

Turner Valley resident Derrek Spencer, who plays acoustic guitar and is a backup singer for the five-member band, said while he doesn’t know the Perdue family he feels for them.

“I hope he has a speedy recovery,” he said of Perdue. “I understand he just finished a bone marrow transplant, through word of mouth, and with a family that large and such a serving member of the community you hope for the best and that everything turns out.”

Spencer hopes the band’s array of music, which includes tunes from The Rolling Stones to Johnny Cash, will brighten the mood.

“It’s hard times all around and you kind of want to lighten the situation and provide entertainment so people can get out and have a good time and raise some money and awareness for the family,” he said. “This will be our first gig in Turner Valley.

“We played at the Black Diamond Hotel a few times and do a lot of rural shows in the area.”

Other fundraisers have taken place for the Perdue family during the last few months including the Diamond Valley Market on Dec. 14 which raised $3,000.

For more information about the Perdue family fundraiser this weekend or to donate a silent auction item contact Kelly Tuck at 403-933-4284.

Cash donations for the family can be made to the Jeremy Perdue Fund at the Alberta Treasury Branch in Black Diamond. The silent auction closes at 8 p.m.

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