$7,400 raised for Pathways
Okanagan Edge Staff - Jan 31, 2017 - Get Involved

Photo: submitted

A fundraiser in honour of a local business woman’s son has raised $7,400 for Pathways Addictions Resource Centre.

Colin Parker lost his battle with addiction in October 2016, spurring his mother Janet Parker, owner of Parker’s Chrysler in Penticton, to begin a fundraising campaign. The Parkers committed $100 for every vehicle sold and $10 for every oil change in December to Pathways.

“Over the past six months, because of the overdose crisis, Pathways has been dealing with a significant increase in calls from people who have lost a loved one due to substance use asking if there are any programs available to deal with their grief and loss,” Pathways agency director Daryl Meyers said in a news release.

“With this generous donation from Parkers to Pathways, we will now be able to offer a series of grief and Loss groups throughout 2017, with the first one starting in February.”

Paker’s general manager Jim Tabler says the fundraiser garnered a lot of attention from the community, with support for the cause pouring in.

“We had community members coming into the dealership specifically as they were touched by Colin’s passing and wanted to help raise money for Pathways,” Tabler said.  “We know we have significant outreach in Penticton and it’s very rewarding to be able to put it to good use for causes that impact the community we work in.”

Janet Parker says the generous nature of the community matched that of her son.

“Colin was a very generous man and I know he would be very happy to know how Penticton embraced the fundraiser for Pathways,” she said.

Parker’s ran a similar campaign in May 2016 for the victims of the Fort McMurray fire, raising $2,250, which the dealership hoped to match for Pathways.


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